Patent ID: 7687282

Claim:
A method of synthesizing a fluorescent tetraaryl borate of formula [(Ar 1 ) 3 B—Ar 2 −Y-FLU] − wherein: Ar 1 is an aryl group; Ar 2 is an arylene group; B is boron; Y is oxygen or sulfur; and FLU is a neutral fluorophore; said method comprising: (a) treating a triaryl borane (Ar 1 ) 3 B with an organometallic reagent of 2 formula (P—Y—Ar 2 )—M, wherein P is a protecting group and M is a metal to form a protected tetraaryl borate (Ar 1 ) 3 B—Ar 2 —Y—P; (b) removing the protecting group from the protected tetraaryl borate to form (Ar 1 ) 3 B—Ar 2 —YH; and (c) treating (Ar 1 ) 3 B—Ar 2 —YH with a fluorophore FLU bearing a leaving group to form a fluorescent tetraaryl borate.