A novel pyrene‐based “off–on” fluorescent probe with high selectivity and sensitivity for Hg2+

Abstract In this article, a novel “off–on” fluorescent probe 2‐(pyren‐1‐ylmethylene)‐1 H ‐indene‐1,3(2 H )‐dione ( PID ) for Hg 2+ was designed and synthesized. The selectivity, concentration titration, pH titration, time dependence, limit of detection, and recognition mechanism of PID for Hg 2+ in CH 3 CH 2 OH/H 2 O solution were also investigated. The results indicated that PID exhibited high selectivity, sensitivity, and fast response to Hg 2+ , and the limit of detection was as low as 20.7 nmol/L. In addition, PID could work in a wide pH range, and the determination of Hg 2+ in water samples showed that it could be used as a potential detection tool in practical application.