A sensitive and efficient trifluoroacetyl-based aromatic fluorescent probe for organic amine vapour detection

Abstract

Volatile organic amines can induce a number of deleterious effects on the ecological environment and human health. A highly efficient detection method is in exigent need. A series of fluorescent probes with trifluoroacetyl as the reactive unit and aromatic moieties including anthracene (ANT–TFA), pyrene (PY–TFA) and triphenylamine (TPA–TFA) unit as fluorophores have been designed for highly reversible, sensitive and efficient amine detection in this contribution. The aromatic unit could significantly tune the reactivity and fluorescent property of the probe. A rapid, reversible and sensitive (ppm to sub-ppb) probe could be realized for differentiating primary and secondary alkyl amines and aniline. Materials Studio was used to understand the reactivity and sensing performance difference. The findings reported herein can greatly advance the real-time monitoring and differentiating of trace organic amines.