A pyrene-containing fluorescent sensor with high selectivity for lead(II) ion in water with dual illustration of ground-state dimer

We report herein a fluorescent sensor derived from 1-pyrene-butyric acid and bicarboxyl-containing glutamic acid. The chemosensor shows high sensitivity (detection limit up to 1.5 μM) and dual illustration of specific selectivity for lead ion (Pb2+) over Na+, Mg2+, K+, Ca2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Ag+, Cd2+ and Hg2+ in aqueous solution.