A highly branched macrocycle-based dual-channel sensor: Bodipy and pillar[5]arene combination for detection of Sn (II) &Hg (II) and bioimaging in living cells.

A highly branched pillar[5]arene-based sensor containing multiple BODIPY units has been designed and synthesized (B-P[5]arene). Systematical experiments on metal ion detection of B-P[5]arene in acetonitrile/water by emission and absorption spectra indicate that this macrocycle shows high sensitivity and selectivity to both Sn (II) and Hg(II) by dual-channels. Hg (II) ions quenched to the fluorescence intensity of B-P[5]arene, while Sn (II) caused a broader spectrum without any shifting in wavelength.