Colorimetric fluoride sensor based on 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.dyepig.2011.04.012

A colorimetric chemosensor TBS-NA, 4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-N-butyl- naphthalimide was designed and synthesized. Addition of fluoride ion to a CH₃CN solution of TBS-NA can result in an obvious color change (from colorless to yellow) and UV-Vis absorption spectral change in a short time. This indicated that TBS-NA had highly selectivity for fluoride detection over other anions, such as Cl^-, Br^-, I^-, HSO4-, ClO4- and AcO^- in CH₃CN solutions, and the selectively detection was due to the selective cleavage of Si-O bond in TBS-NA by fluoride. The detection limit was calculated to be 0.59 μM.