Highly efficient and selective detection of picric acid among other nitroaromatics by NIR fluorescent organic fluorophores

摘要

Selective detection of picric acid at nanomolar concentration is achieved in water medium for the first time using curcumin-BF_2 complex and conjugated curcumin fluorophore C1 and C2. The origin of the selectivity is investigated using absorption, fluorescence emission and ~1H NMR spectroscopic techniques. Mechanism of interaction of picric acid with highly fluorescent N, N-dimethyl based conjugated curcumin molecules have been studied by density functional theory and solvatochromism. The probe exhibited excellent selectivity towards picric acid and it is used to detect picric acid by test strips.