Barbituric acid–triphenylamine adduct as an AIEE-type molecule and optical probe for mercury(ii). (27th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shi, Wei; Zhao, Shiyu; Su, Yue; Hui, Yonghai; Xie, Zhengfeng
• Is Part Of: New journal of chemistry. Volume 40:Number 9(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 7814
• Page End: 7820
• Publication Date: 2016-07-27
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chimie -- Périodiques; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/c6nj00894a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1144-0546

Abstract

Abstract : A barbituric acid–triphenylamine adduct displayed interesting aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) features in a THF–water co-solvent system and can act as a fluorescence turn-on probe for Hg 2+ . Abstract : A type of simple-structured triphenylamine–barbituric acid adduct, M1, has been synthesized using a practical and simple Knoevenagel reaction under mild conditions.M1 displayed interesting aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) characteristics in a THF (good solvent)–water (poor solvent) system. The fluorescence intensity ofM1 increased significantly when the water fraction in the co-solvent system surpassed 70%, and the emission maxima shifted from ∼568 nm (in THF) to ∼610 nm (in THF/water = 1 : 19, v/v). By taking advantage of the specific binding of the thymine-like amide groups inM1 with Hg 2+, the fluorescence ofM1 was enhanced to realize the successful turn-on detection of Hg 2+ in an aqueous environment (THF/water = 3 : 7, v/v). Hg 2+ -induced aggregation ofM1 is a plausible reason for the probing process.