Novel highly sensitive fluorescence probe based on Perylene diimide for formaldehyde in real food samples

A formaldehyde (FA) fluorescence probe PDSN with two hydrazone groups as the recognition site based on the Perylene tetracarboxylic diimide (PDI) skeleton was synthesized, applied in the recognition of FA in food. The probe PDSN presented an obvious color change from purple to bright yellow after the addition of FA. The fluorescent mechanism of PDSN was also confirmed by 1H NMR. Moreover, PDSN exhibited excellent sensitivity, high selectivity, wide pH values, and a low detection limit of 11.2 nM. Satisfactory results were obtained in the water and real food samples in great accordance with an impressed recovery rate and RSD.