New polar plasticizers for luminescence-based sensors

The widely used polar plasticizer 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) is found to act as a dynamic quencher of the luminescence of certain indicators; quenching studies have been performed both in solution and sensor membranes plasticized with NPOE. A series of 2-cyanophenyl alkyl ethers (with C8, C10 and C12 alkyl chains) has been prepared and is found not to act as quenchers and hence, represent an improved class of plasticizers for use in luminescence-based sensors.