18α-Glycyrrhetinic acid aggregation-induced emission probes for visual fluorescence detection of explosive as well multi-functional applications

Abstract

With the aggravation of the international situation and the frequency of local wars, a variety of new types of explosives have been put into use and an accurate detection of these explosives has become an inevitable problem. Herein, two novel compounds TGL1 and TGL2 with obvious AIE properties were synthesized through 18α-glycyrrhetinic acid and tetraphenylethylene derivatives. Experimental results showed that the two probes could quickly and accurately detect the explosive FOX-7, with the quenching constants of 1.05 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ and 4.22 × 10⁵ M⁻¹, respectively. Good environmental adaptability, anti-interference ability, and variable applications make the probes have a good potential in the practical detection of explosives.