Bis-naphthalimide Derivatives for Picronitric Acid Detection in Aqueous Solution

A novel bis-naphthalimide derivative (Bis-Nph) was designed, synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Compound Bis-Nph presented typical intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) emission and aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE). It could he used as a fluorescent probe to detect 2,4,6-trinitmphenol (TNP) in aqueous solution, the calculated limit of detection is 5.8x10(-7) mol/L. The mechanism for sensing TNP was investigated using H-1 NMR. The proton transfers from TNP to Bis-Nph and blocks the ICT emission, and causes the fluorescence to he quenched remarkably. Further, Bis-Nph showed low cytotoxicity and could he made into test strips for rapid TNP detection.