Highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for determination of Cu(II) in aqueous solution

A 5-sulfosalicylaldehyde compound, which displays high selective response for copper ions in aqueous solution, was synthesized by salicylaldehyde and concentrated sulfuric acid with high yields. The probe displayed selectivity, as evidenced by a green fluorescence to colorless change, characterized using fluorescence spectroscopy. Its potential application to bioimaging was also illustrated.