A FRET-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for sensing trace water in organic solvents

Abstract

Herein, a fluorescent probe based on the FRET mechanism was designed and synthesized for sensing trace water in acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran. When this probe was titrated with water, excellent linearity and low detection limit were obtained; in addition, theoretical calculations were used to optimize the transition state of the probe towards the sensing of water. Moreover, the observed vibration between the probe and the water molecule supported the proposed sensing mechanism.