Selective activation of lanthanide luminescence with triarylboron-functionalized ligands and visual fluoride indicators

Two triarylboron-functionalized carboxylate ligands have been found to be highly effective in selective activation of Tb(III) and Eu(III) emission and enable the use of the Tb(III) and Eu(III) complexes as highly effective luminescent indicators for F- and CN- in solution and on a solid substrate.