Simple fluorescent chemosensors for TNT: one-step synthesis

A series of simple fluorescent chemosensors were synthesized and their binding constants for electron-deficient aromatic explosives were compared in semi-aqueous media. Among these molecules, the best fluorescent chemosensor 4 can detect <2 ppb of TNT in a semi-aqueous solution, employing hydrophobic interactions and its conformational strains. Furthermore, this dipyrenyl chemosensor can be easily obtained via a single reaction using readily available starting materials.