Simple pyrene derivatives as fluorescence sensors for TNT and RDX in micelles

Abstract

Various pyrene derivatives were synthesized and systematically examined in micelles. Synthesized mono and bispyrene derivatives were tested in micelles so that they displayed a strong excimer band and the excimer band was quenched in the presence of TNT and RDX. In the optimized condition, the binding constant for TNT of a simple dipyrene derivative 4 was increased up to 1.0 × 10 6 M -1 in cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles, which allowed for the detection of 2 ppb of TNT and 334 ppb of RDX by fluorescence titrations.