Ratiometric fluorescent and colorimetric sensors for Cu2+ based on 4,5-disubstituted-1,8-naphthalimide and sensing cyanide via Cu2+ displacement approach

Two 4,5-disubstituted-1,8-naphthalimide derivatives 1 and 2 were synthesized as ratiometric fluorescent and colorimetric sensors for Cu2+, respectively. In 100% aqueous solutions of 1, the presence of Cu2+ induces a strong and increasing fluorescent emission centered at 478 nm at the expense of the fluorescent emission of 1 centered at 534 nm. Compound 2 senses Cu2+ by means of a colorimetric (primrose yellow to pink) method with a thorough quench in emission attributed to the deprotonation of the secondary amine conjugated to the naphthalimide fluorophore. 1-Cu2+ and 2-Cu2+ sense cyanide in ratiometric way via colorimetric and fluorescent changes.