Development of a boron-dipyrromethene-Cu2+ ensemble based colorimetric probe toward hydrogen sulfide in aqueous media

A boron-dipyrromethene-Cu2+ ensemble based colorimetric probe for detection of hydrogen sulfide in aqueous media is reported. Complex 1–Cu(II) is able to selectively sense hydrogen sulfide over other anions and thiols followed by the release of compound 1 to give a remarkable change of UV absorption in aqueous solution (HEPES (4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid) buffer, 50 mM, pH 7.4, 5% DMSO).