Design for a small molecule based chemosensor containing boron and pyridine moieties to detect HF

A new triarylborane compound 1 is described as fluorescent probe for HF gas with high sensitivity and selectivity. The system utilized the coordination of a fluoride ion to the boron center in 1 to cause perturbation in the energy transfer pathway and the pi conjugation, which induced distinct fluorescent quenching. A probe 1-coated film was further applied to detect HF gas via a unique capacitance change. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.