A highly selective fluorescent sensor for mercury ions in aqueous solution: Detection based on target-induced aggregation

A highly selective fluorescent probe, dansyl-l-glutamic methyl diester (1), was easily prepared for Hg2+ detection, which is aggregated by target with a blue-shift and turn-on fluorescence response. The compound also can remove the Hg2+ in aqueous solution by filtering. The involved mechanism was clarified by FTIR in the solid of crystal complex 1/Hg2+ and 1H NMR spectra in aqueous solution.