New ON-OFF type Ca-selective fluoroionophore having boron-dipyrromethene fluorophores

A new fluorogenic ionophore has been prepared by conjugating calix[4]-crown-5 ether with boron-dipyrromethene fluorophore. The ionophore exhibited a pronounced selective ON-OFF type response toward Ca²⁺ ions over other physiologically important metal ions of Na⁺, K⁺, and Mg²⁺. The interaction with Ca²⁺ ions resulted in very efficient quenching of fluorescence at 507 nm excited by relatively long wavelength irradiation at 480 nm. The selectivity ratios toward Ca²⁺ ions over other tested physiologically important metal ions were larger than 180 in aqueous 95% MeOH solution.