A highly selective colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for Al(III) based-on simple naphthol in aqueous solution

•A new chemosensor for Al(III) was designed and fully characterized.•The binding ratio of L–Al3 + was determined by the Job plot and MALDI-TOF MS data.•L shows a large enhancement with turn-on 189-fold with Al3 +.•It has lower detection limit.

A colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor (L) for Al(III) was synthesized and fully characterized. L could be both used as a colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for the detection of Al3 + ions with low detection limit (8.87 × 10− 7 M) in CH3CN–H2O (1:1, v/v) solution. The binding ratio of L–Al3 + was determined from the Job plot (absorption and fluorescence spectra) and MALDI-TOF MS data to be 1:1. The binding constant (Ka) of Al3 + binding to L was calculated to be 4.8 × 105 M− 1 from a Benesi–Hildebrand plot. Moreover, the binding site of L with Al3 + was determined by 1H NMR titration experiment.

Graphical abstractA new chemosensor for Al(III) showed effective colorimetric/fluorescent single selectivity and high sensitivity for Al3 + in aqueous solution. The binding ratio of L–Al3 + complexes was determined from the Job plot (absorption and fluorescence spectra) and MALDI-TOF MS data to be 1:1. Moreover, the binding site of L with Al3 + is determined by 1H NMR titration experiment.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide