A highly Selective Fluorescent Sensor for Monitoring Cu Ion: Synthesis, Characterization and Photophysical Properties.

A new fluorescent sensor, 4-allylamine-N-(N-salicylidene)-1,8-naphthalimide (1), anchoring a naphthalimide moiety as fluorophore and a Schiff base group as receptor, was synthesized and characterized. The photophysical properties of sensor 1 were conducted in organic solvents of different polarities. Our study revealed that, depending on the solvent polarity, the fluorescence quantum yields varied from 0.59 to 0.89. The fluorescent activity of the sensor was monitored and the sensor was consequently applied for the detection of Cu with high selectivity over various metal ions by fluorescence quenching in Tris-HCl (pH = 7.2) buffer/DMF (1:1, v/v) solution. From the binding stoichiometry, it was indicated that a 1:1 complex was formed between Cu and the sensor 1. The fluorescence intensity was linear with Cu in the concentration range 0.5-5 μM. Moreso, the detection limit was calculated to be 0.32 μM, which is sufficiently low for good sensitivity of Cu ion. The binding mode was due to the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and the coordination of Cu with C = N and hydroxyl oxygen groups of the sensor 1. The sensor proved effective for Cu monitoring in real water samples with recovery rates of 95-112.6 % obtained.