A novel fluorescent chemosensor based on naphthofuran functionalized naphthalimide for highly selective and sensitive detecting Hg2+ and CN−

To develop simple and low-cost method for efficiently detecting toxic ions such as Hg 2+ and CN − is a vital challenge. In this work, a novel fluorescent sensor NF was successfully designed and synthesized by employing naphthofuran and naphthalimide groups as fluorescent signal groups as well as binding sites. Based on the collaboration of these two groups, the NF shows fluorescent response to Hg 2+ with high sensitivity and specific selectivity, and the lowest of detection limit (LOD) of the NF for Hg 2+ is 4.7 × 10 −7 M. Moreover, the complexes NF –Hg 2+ can serve as fluorescence “Turn-On” selective sensor for CN − , the LOD for CN − is 5.58 × 10 −8 M. More importantly, the NF shows highly sensitivity and selectivity for Hg 2+ and CN − with the high anti-interference ability. The ions recognition mechanisms of the NF for Hg 2+ and NF –Hg 2+ for CN − were carefully investigated by experiments and quantum chemical calculations including density functional theory (DFT), electrostatic surface potential and frontier molecular orbital theroy, which not only supplied deeply insight on the collaboration of the naphthofuran and naphthalimide groups, but also confirmed the charge transfer. In addition, the logic gate and test kits for fluorescent detection of Hg 2+ and CN − were also prepared. • An easily-prepared fluorescent sensor NF based on naphthofuran functionalized naphthalimide. • The NF could sensitively and selectively detect Hg 2+ and CN − via synergistic effect. • High selective, other ions could not interfer the Hg 2+ and CN − detecting process. • High sensitive, the LODs for Hg 2+ and CN − are 4.7 × 10 −7 M and 5.58 × 10 −8 M. • The fluorescent detecting logic gate and test kits have been prepared.