An AIE-Based Fluorescent Probe for Selective and Sensitive Detection of N-Bromosuccinimide

Abstract

N-Bromosuccinimide, a widely used brominating and oxidizing reagent in chemical synthesis and pharmaceutical processing, poses significant environmental and health risks. The development of efficient and practical detection methods for NBS remains challenging. Herein, we report a novel AIE-based fluorescent probe TPE-PTZ, designed by integrating tetraphenylethylene luminophore with a phenothiazine reactive unit. The probe exhibits a unique fluorescence "on-off" response to NBS. In acetonitrile/water mixtures, TPE-PTZ forms emissive aggregates, whereas NBS-triggered oxidation of PTZ leads to fluorescence quenching. This method exhibits exceptional sensitivity and selectivity for NBS detection. This work not only presents the first AIE-based NBS sensor but also establishes a design strategy for monitoring oxidizing reagents in environmental and pharmaceutical contexts.