A simple triazole-based “turn on” fluorescent sensor for Al3+ ion in MeCN-H2O and F− ion in MeCN

A novel fluorescent sensor N-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carbohydrazide (NTA), based on triazole was synthesized in two facile steps, characterized systematically and used as a turn-on fluorescent sensor for both Al3+ and F−. The fluorescence spectra changes showed that NTA is highly selective for Al3+ over other metal ions in MeCN-H2O solution. The receptor NTA could also sense F− selectively in MeCN. The complexation properties of receptor NTA with Al3+ and F− ions were observed by 1H NMR titration experiments.