A single probe for sensing both acetate and aluminum(iii): visible region detection, red fluorescence and human breast cancer cell imaging

Abstract

A single probe (L) can recognise both AcO⁻ and Al³⁺ as prepared by coupling 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with hydrazine. Both the ions provide visible range emission and absorbance upon interaction with the probe allowing their naked eye detections. AcO⁻ sensing is attributed to the formation of hydrogen-bond while Al³⁺ recognition is due to the combination of three effects, viz. inhibition of excited-state proton transfer (ESPT), CHN isomerization and chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF).