Nanomolar Cu2+ and F- naked-eye detection with a 1,8-naphthalimide-based colorimetric probe

Based on hydrolysis reaction by Cu2+ and intermolecular hydrogen bond, a dual functional colorimetric probe, a novel 1,8-naphthalimide derivative was designed and synthesized for Cu2+ and F- naked-eye recognition with high sensitivity and excellent selectivity. The probe can detect Cu2+ and F- quantitatively in concentration range of 0-16.7 mu M and 0-23.3 mu M, and the detection limit could be as low as 370 nM for Cu2+ and 720 nM for F-. The detection of F- on chromatography plates and the preliminary application of 1 to detect fluorine contents in several kinds of toothpaste, tap water and Eyebrow Lake have been successfully demonstrated. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.