A Handy Chemical Sensor Based on Benzaldehyde and Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine Mixture for Naked-eye Colorimetric and Fluorescent Detection of F−.

Upon the Schiff base condensation reaction of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-carbohydrazide and 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, a bimodal colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor 1o for assaying fluoride (F−) in DMSO was synthesized. The characterization of 1o structure was obtained by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS.The structure of 1o was characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS. Under the presence of various anions, 1o could be applied for naked-eye and fluorescent detection of F− (naked eye: colorless to yellow; fluorescence: dark to green) and displayed promising performance, such as high selectivity and sensitivity, as well as a low detection limit. Upon calculation, the detection limit of chemosensor 1o for F− was 193.5 nM, which is well below the allowed maximum value of F− (1.5 mg/L) by WHO. As the intermolecular proton transfer mechanism induced "turn-on" fluorescent signal and naked-eye color change of F− to 1o through deprotonation effect, which was confirmed by Job's plot curve, mass spectrometry and 1H NMR titration. Alternatively, the chemosensor 1o can be effectively manufactured into test strips to detect fluoride in solid state, which is user-friendly with no additional equipment required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]