A novel ratiometric fluorescent Yb3+ sensor based on a N′-(1-oxoacenaphthylen-2(1H)-ylidene)furan-2-carbohydrazide as a suitable fluorophore

N′-(1-oxoacenaphthylen-2(1H)-ylidene)furan-2-carbohydrazide (L) was synthesized for the first time and used as a ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for high selective recognition of Yb3+ ions in acetonitrile (MeCN) solution. The L–Yb3+ complexation quench the fluorescence of L at 420 nm and induces new fluorescent enhancement at 516 nm. Due to the formation of a 2:1 metal ligand complex in acetonitrile solution, the red shift of fluorescent emission spectrum occurred. The sensor shows a linear response toward Yb3+ ion concentration in the range of 3.3 × 10− 7 M to 1.0 × 10− 4 M with detection limit of 1.2 × 10− 7 M. The fluorescent probe exhibits high selectivity for Yb3+ ion over the other common mono-, di-, and trivalent cations.