Fluorescence turn-ON of a naphthalimide derivative by anions in cationic micellar network: An overture towards a simple chemosensing platform

Fluorescence recognition and sensing of aqueous anionic species is a challenging task and is being increasingly appreciated as far as potential biological and environmental issues of such systems are concerned. In the present contribution, we introduce for the first time fluorescence amplified recognition of a naphthalimide derivative (NAP) being embedded in a cationic alkyl trimethyl ammonium bromide micellar (CnTAB) units by various anions applying steady state and time resolved fluorescence techniques. Strongly quenched NAP emission in micellar framework has been effectively recovered upon intervention of various anions (such as H2PO4−, HPO42−, PO43−, SO42−, Cl−, etc.) with different sensitivities. The sensing process based on ion displacement mechanism, which principally governs a proficient fluorescence enhancement to various anions in a simple and efficient way, has been demonstrated. Optimization of sensor is achieved by altering surfactant chain length. The intermolecular approach used here seems to be rather flexible and appealing to design interface oriented fluorescent sensors to convene different analytic purposes for a wide variety of anion targets.