Novel naphthalimide derived fluorescent probe based on aggregation-induced emission for turn-on detection of hydrogen sulfide

Two novel aggregation-induced emission (AIE) based fluorescent probes, TPANI-DNs and PCZNI-DNs, have been designed and synthesized for “turn-on” detection of H2S. Chromophore napthalimide fused triphenylamine (or phenylcarbazole) unit as fluorophore in combination with 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonyl as recognition moiety constructed probes. The design strategy of the twisted D-π-A structure can efficiently transform the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) system into the AIE system by strengthening the restriction of intramolecular motion and preventing the intermolecular π-π stacking. The consequences showed that both TPANI-DNs and PCZNI-DNs displayed large stokes shift (135 nm and 120 nm, respectively), high selective and sensitive detection. The response mechanisms and fluorescent properties were further investigated through the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Importantly, since the strong AIE properties, a H2S test board has been prepared and used to detect H2S onsite easily and sensitively, displaying potential practical applications. [Display omitted] •Development of two novel aggregation-induced emission (AIE) based fluorescent probes for “turn-on” detection of H2S.•Two probes based on naphthalimide fused triphenylamine and phenylcarbazole possess the twisted D-π-A structure.•Two probes exhibit easy synthesis, high sensitivity and specificity for H2S.•Probes are capable to detect H2S in real water samples, and the test board can sensitive and facile detect H2S onsite.