Pyrene excimer-based fluorescent sensor for detection and removal of Fe3+and Pb2+from aqueous solutions.
Pyrene excimer usually serves as a chromogenic unit for developing ratiometric fluorescent sensors. But this study used excimer as a large hydrophobic group to regulate the molecular hydrophobicity, and obtained a new fluorescent sensor, N, N-bi[4(1-pyrene)-butyroyl]ornithine (1), for detection and removal of Fe3+and Pb2+from aqueous solutions. The coordination of 1 and Fe3+in the aqueous solution or even pure water forms removable flocculent precipitates, accompanied by obvious fluorescent quenching of emission spectra. In aqueous solutions containing 40% (v/v) acetonitrile, the special responses exhibit a high selectivity and sensitivity to Fe3+over other common metal ions. However, in aqueous solutions containing 40% (v/v) dimethylsulfoxide, the probe exhibits the analogous fluorescent quenching responses and the removable flocculent precipitates in the presence Fe3+and Pb2+. These results indicate that the extremely hydrophobic 1-Fe3+/Pb2+complexes are not only a supplement to the fluorescent sensing of Fe3+and Pb2+, but also a requirement to the removal of Fe3+and Pb2+from aqueous solutions.
School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
Meili
M
Zhao
School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
Xiufen
X
Zhou
School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
Jian
J
Tang
School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
Zhifu
Z
Deng
School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
Xuan
X
Xu
School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
Zhi
Z
Chen
School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
Xutian
X
Li
School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
Liting
L
Yang
School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510631, PR China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage, PR China. Electronic address: mlj898021@aliyun.com.
Li-Jun
LJ
Ma
Detection and removal; Fe(3+); Fluorescent sensor; Pb(2+)