Thiourea-cyanostilbene derivative: An effective fluorescent sensor for Pd2+in aqueous media

Although some Pd2+ sensors were presented, the in-situ and real-time examination of Pd2+ based on fluorescent sensor is still a challenging task. In this work, a novel thiourea-cyanostilbene derivative (TCS) was designed and synthesized as the effective fluorescent sensor on in-situ and real-time sensing Pd2+ in aqueous media. TCS possessed good AIE fluorescence in THF/H2O solution. The fluorescence was selectively quenched by Pd2+ among all kinds of metallic ions. The sensing mechanism of 1:1 stoichiometry ratio for TCS with Pd2+was confirmed by Job's plot, 1H NMR and MS spectra. The detection limit was as low as 4.32 x 10-8 M. TCS exhibited the good sensing application for Pd2+ in tested paper and simulated samples with low errors. TCS had the excellent fluorescence imaging performance in living cells with the fluorescence imaging response on Pd2+. This research not only reported an effective fluorescence sensor for Pd2+, but also suggested the good application prospect on in-situ and real-time sensing Pd2+ in complicated environment.

Automated summary

Although some Pd2+ sensors have been developed, the in-situ and real-time examination of Pd2+ using a fluorescent sensor remains challenging. In this study, a novel thiourea-cyanostilbene derivative (TCS) was successfully synthesized and used as an effective fluorescent sensor for in-situ and real-time sensing of Pd2+ in aqueous media. TCS exhibited good AIE fluorescence and selective quenching by Pd2+ among various metallic ions.