Recent progress on reaction-based BODIPY probes for anion detection

Since anions play important ions in cells, tissues, organisms and environment, it is urgent and necessary to develop selective and sensitive methods to monitor them. Reaction-based colorimetric/fluorescent probes exhibit very attractive properties such as high selectivity and sensitivity, controllable response time and low limit of detection. BODIPY is a good candidate due to its distinct advantages such as chemical stability, high quantum yield, intense absorption and easy functionalization, etc. In this review, significant advances, design strategies and sensing mechanisms of reaction-based probes exploiting selective detection of fluoride, cyanide, hypochlorite and other anions with BODIPY fluorophores are summarized after year 2011.