A new class of pyrene based multifunctional chemo sensors for differential sensing of metals in different media: Selective recognition of Zn2+ in organic and Fe3+ in aqueous medium

Pyrene based Bigineilli compounds 1-4 were synthesized through one pot, multicomponent organic synthesis and were assessed for their metal binding ability under both organic medium and through forming their ONPs (aqueous medium). Sensors 3 and 4 selectively bind Zn2+ in acetonitrile through quenching in fluorescence intensity of excimer peak at 470 nm and amplifying monomer peak (which consist of two shoulder peaks at 380 nm and 395 nm). ONPs of 3 and 4 in aqueous medium displayed AIEE (aggregation induced enhanced emission) phenomenon through enhancement in fluorescence intensity. Furthermore, ONPs of 3 and 4 sense Fe3+ by quenching fluorescence intensity of both monomer and excimer emission peak. Sensing event of Fe3+ by organic nanoparticles of 3 and 4 was authenticated with CV profile of 3 and 4 with Fe3+. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.