A boron-containing carbazole dimer: synthesis, photophysical properties and sensing properties.

A novel boron-containing pi-conjugated compound BCCB has been synthesized by the introduction of electron-acceptors (dimesitylboron groups) at the 3,3'-positions of a carbazole dimer (electron-donor). The compound BCCB possesses excellent electrochemical properties and high fluorescence quantum yields. In addition, BCCB is a sensitive fluorescence sensor with remarkable colour changes and the results could be confirmed through theoretical calculations of the compounds BCCB and [(Bu4N)-Bu-n](2)(+)[BCCB center dot(F)(2)](2-). Our studies indicate that BCCB could be used as an excellent optoelectronic material in OLED devices and a ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor.