A novel fluoride selective optical chemosensor based on internal charge transfer signaling

A new internal charge transfer probe, NAPH-1, synthesized by incorporating photoemitive naphthalimide core with an acidic imidazolium ring, offers highly selective colorimetric and ratiometric 'off-on' signaling for targeting F−, while Cl−, Br−, I−, HSO4-, SCN−, AcO−, and NO3- do not appreciably perturb the photophysical properties of the probe even at relatively higher concentrations than the F−. Deprotonation of the imidazolium ring, supported by the 1H NMR and theoritical studies, seems to cause the spectral modulations.

Graphical abstractA new internal charge transfer probe, NAPH-1, offers selective colorimetric and ratiometric 'off-on' signaling for targeting F−, while Cl−, Br−, I−, HSO4-, SCN−, AcO−, and NO3- do not appreciably perturb the photophysical properties of the probe even at relatively higher concentration than F−.Download full-size image