A turn-on bis-BODIPY chemosensor for copper recognition based on the in situ generation of a benzimidazole–triazole receptor and its applications in bioimaging

A bis-BODIPY-based fluorescent probe (BODIPY-NN) is developed for Cu 2+ detection in aqueous solutions and living cells. The sensing mechanism is based on the in situ generation of a benzimidazole–triazole receptor induced by Cu 2+ ions.