An anthracene-based organogel with colorimetric fluoride-responsive and fluorescence-enhanced properties

An anthracene-based gelator (AHP-mB8) has been designed and synthesized. AHP-mB8 can form thermo-reversible gels in some of the tested solvents. FTIR, temperature-dependent 1H NMR, UV-vis and XRD spectra indicated that the gelator self-assembles into a fibrous network possibly due to the combination of intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions. The anion binding studies indicated that AHP-mB8 has remarkable and specific F− selectivity over other tested anions to exhibit yellow-red color changes for easy naked-eye detection. The Enhanced Fluorescence Emission has been observed after gelation although the dilute solution of AHP-mB8 was almost non-fluorescent.

The organogel of an anthracene derivative exhibited gelation-induced enhanced fluorescence emission, and it was selectively fluoride-responsive among test anions, expressing gel-sol transition and yellow-red color changes for easily naked-eye detection.