Detection of nitroaromatics based on aggregation induced emission of barbituric acid derivatives

Barbituric acid derivatives with typical aggregation induced emission (AIE) are reported. Their emission wavelengths varied with water fraction of their solution. UV–visible absorption spectroscopy and theoretical calculations revealed the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) possibility from donor to acceptor and the mechanism was confirmed as a restriction of intramolecular motion (RIM). The AIE properties were affected by the different substituents on barbituric acid. When the molecular volume increased, the AIE effect decreased. Fluorescent quenching mechanism was applied to detect nitroaromatic explosives. For 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (PA), one of the derivatives 5-(4-diphenylamino styrene)-1,3-diphenyl-barbituric acid in THF/H2O mixture (1:9, v/v), showed amplified fluorescence quenching with a maximum Stern–Volmer quenching constant of 4.1 × 104 M−1. The solid phase paper test based on 5-(4-diphenylamino styrene)-1,3-diphenyl-barbituric acid also showed a superior sensitivity toward PA both in vapor and solution. [Display omitted] •We founded that the AIE properties were affected by the different substituents on barbituric acid.•The presence of isomers reduces the fluorescence stability of the compound in the aggregated state.•The compounds can be used for the detection of nitroaromatics in aqueous media.