A Schiff base fluorescent chemsensor for the double detection of Al3+ and PPi through aggregation induced emission in environmental physiology

In this paper, a simple Schiff base fluorescent probe was synthesized by aggregation-induced emission. The probe detected Al3+ with an "off-on" behavior, because the molecular rotation was restricted, the molecular rigidity was increased. The stoichiometry ratio of the probe to Al3+ was 1:2. The detection limit of Al3+ was 0.39 mu M, which was exceedingly below the WHO standard (7.41 mu M) and the acceptable Al3+ levels of (1.85 mu M) in drinking water. In view of the strong binding ability between pyrophosphate (PPi) and Al3+, the probe-Al3+. detected PPi with an "on-off" behavior over other physiological relevant metal ions, anion and biomolecules investigated in this study. The detection limit of PPi was 0.75 mu M. Therefore, the proposed probe is a promising fluorescent sensor that can be used to detect Al3+ and PPi. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.