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A Novel D-π-A Type Fluorescent Probe for Cu2+ Based on Styryl-Pyridinium Salts Conjugating Di-(2-picolyl)amine (DPA) Units

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Abstract

A novel D-π-A type fluorescent probe L(NO3) for Cu (II) sensing was designed and fully characterized. The probe consists of a styryl-pyridine cation fluorescent group and a di-(2-picolyl)amine (DPA) receptor unit, which are linked by a phenyl group to form an electron donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) conjugate system, especially the introduction of a nitrate counter anion for significantly enhanced water solubility of the probe. Fluorescence titration studies of the probe L(NO3) showed a higher selectivity for Cu2+ than other metal ions, and the emission spectrum was strongly quenched upon binding. The competitive binding assay and the low detection limit (0.932 µM) showed that the probe L(NO3) had strong anti-interference ability and excellent Cu2+ detection performance. The binding ratio of probe L(NO3) and Cu2+ was determined from Job’s plot to be 1:1, which is consistent with the results obtained from X-ray crystal structures. Meanwhile, the probe showed instantaneous chemical reversibility when titrated with EDTA solution, indicating potential recycling properties of the probe. In addition, the design of inexpensive fluorescent test strips can perform the on-site and real-time detection Cu2+ with a color recognition application.

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Funding

This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of Higher Education Institutions in Anhui province (2022AH051314, KJ2021ZD0075, KJ2020A0541), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21701025), Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (1908085MB44), the Natural Science Foundation of Fuyang Normal College (2019KYQD0019), the Training Programs of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates (S202110371026, S202110371028). The authors are also thankful to Engineering Research Centre of Biomass Conversion and Pollution Prevention Control of Anhui Provincial Department of Education, and the Anhui Province Key Laboratory for Degradation and Monitoring of Pollution of the Environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Anhui, 236037, Fuyang, People’s Republic of China

    Rui Cao, Mengyu Zhang, Wen Tang, Jing Wu, Meixiang Wang, Xiaoxiao Niu, Zhaodi Liu, Fuying Hao & Huajie Xu

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  1. Rui Cao
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  2. Mengyu Zhang
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  3. Wen Tang
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  8. Fuying Hao
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Contributions

Rui Cao: Data curation, Writing-original draft. Mengyu Zhang: Software, Validation. Wen Tang and Meixiang Wang: Software, Investigation. Jing Wu and Xiaoxiao Niu: Validation. Zhaodi Liu: Conceptualization, Supervision. Fuying Hao: Writing-review & editing. Huajie Xu: Conceptualization, Methodology.

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Correspondence to Zhaodi Liu or Huajie Xu.

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Cao, R., Zhang, M., Tang, W. et al. A Novel D-π-A Type Fluorescent Probe for Cu2+ Based on Styryl-Pyridinium Salts Conjugating Di-(2-picolyl)amine (DPA) Units. J Fluoresc 33, 1565–1576 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-023-03151-0

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