New Ni-Anthracene Complex for Selective and Sensitive Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol

Selective and sensitive detection of explosive materials through a simple approach is an attractive area of research having implications on public safety and homeland security. Considering this implication in mind, a new Ni-anthracene complex was designed and synthesized and has been demonstrated as an efficient fluorescence chemosensor for the selective and sensitive detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol. Firstly, a fluorescent anthracene ligand (A) was synthesized by treating anthracene-9-carboxaldehyde with 1,3-diaminopropane in presence of a weak acid. To achieve superior selectivity and great quenching efficiency for 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP), a Ni complex, namely, [Ni( -L)(NO3)] (B), was synthesized via the reaction of A with Ni(NO3)2·6H2O. Complex B showed strong emission peak ( ) at 412 nm and exhibited high selectivity towards TNP among other nitroaromatics and anions. 100 equivalents of TNP made 95% fluorescence quenching of B and its detection limit for TNP was calculated as 2.8 μM.