Highly emissive dimesitylboryl-substituted 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole derivatives: photophysical properties and efficient fluorescent sensor for fluoride anions

One symmetrical and two unsymmetrical dimesitylboryl-substituted BTD derivatives 1–3 were prepared through Pd(0)-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. All these compounds display intense fluorescence not only in solution but also in the solid state due to steric bulkiness of the boryl group, which is effective to suppress the intermolecular interactions in the solid state. In addition, the boryl-substituted BTD 1 displays prompt fluorescence responses to fluoride ions with high sensitivity through the complexation of the boron center with fluoride, demonstrating its potential utility as fluorescent sensor for fluoride ions.