Off-the-Shelf Colorimetric Anion Sensors This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant GM 58907) and the Texas Advanced Research Program.

Abstract

No elaborate syntheses are required to generate colorimetric anion sensors. Rather, many commercially available chromophores (dyes) with built-in hydrogen bond donor sites have been found to act as “off-the-shelf” anion indicators (see scheme). These species allow for the so-called naked eye detection of fluoride, chloride, and phosphate anions under a range of conditions.