A new cyclotriphosphazene appended phenanthroline derivative as a highly selective and sensitive OFF-ON fluorescent chemosensor for Al3+ ions

Abstract

A new type of fluorescent chemosensor based on a novel cyclotriphosphazene appended phenanthroline derivative was synthesized and its sensing behavior toward metal ions was investigated by UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. Addition of an Al3+ ion to an acetonitrile solution of the phenanthroline derivative exhibited a significant increase of fluorescence emission intensities, while 18 other metal ions induced no spectral changes. This phenanthroline derivative, as a candidate for an OFF-ON fluorescent chemosensor for Al3+, was found to be highly selective and sensitive with a low limit of detection (1.825 mu g L-1). (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.