A helical chiral polymer-based chromo-fluorescence and CD response sensor for selective detection of trivalent cations

ABSTRACT A novel chiral (S)‐BINAM‐based fluorescent polymer sensor was designed and synthesized by the polymerization of 4,4′‐((2,5‐dibutoxy‐1,4‐phenylene)bis(ethyne‐2,1‐diyl))‐dibenzaldehyde (M‐1) with (S)‐2,2′‐binaphthyldiamine (S‐BINAM, M‐2) via Schiff's base formation. The resulting helical chiral polymer sensor exhibited remarkable “turn‐on” bright blue fluorescence color upon the addition of trivalent metal ions under a commercially available UV lamp; this change can be clearly observed by the naked eye for direct visual discrimination at low concentration. More importantly, the addition of trivalent metal cations can lead to a most pronounced change of CD spectra of the chiral polymer indicating this kind chiral sensor can also be used as a sole probe for selective recognition of trivalent metal cations based on CD spectra. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 4070–4075 A novel BINAM‐based helical chiral polymer was developed, which exhibited remarkable “turn‐on” fluorescence enhancement response toward trivalent metal cations (M3+, M = Al, Cr, Fe) over mono‐ and divalent metal cations. The solution of the polymer turns on bright blue fluorescence color upon the addition of trivalent metal cations under a commercially available UV lamp, this change can be clearly observed by the naked eyes for direct visual discrimination at low concentration.