Photophysical investigations on the sensor potential of novel, poly(propylenamine) dendrimers modified with 1,8-naphthalimide units

Novel poly(propylenamine) first and second generation dendrimers in which the periphery was modified with 1,8-naphthalimide units were synthesized. Acetonitrile solutions of the materials were subjected to photophysical investigation to evaluate their capability to detect metal cations, by monitoring changes in their absorption and fluorescence spectra in the presence of Ag+, Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Fe3+ and Zn2+. The potential of the dendrimers to detect metal ion pollutants was estimated.