A near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent sensor 1 composed of an aza-boron-dipyrromethene (aza-BODIPY) core covalently bound to two di-2-picolylamine moieties was conceived for Cu detection in aqueous solutions. Spectroscopic properties and binding abilities with several metal ions were investigated in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4): acetonitrile (95 : 5 v/v) with Triton X-100 via fluorometric titrations. The fluorescence of sensor 1 was quenched selectively by cupric ions in the presence of alkali- and transition-metal-ions. A detection limit of 13 ppb was measured for this system, and this is significantly lower than permissible levels of Cu in drinking water according to the guidelines described by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by the World Health Organization (WHO). Application of the sensor in detecting Cu in HepG2 cells was demonstrated.

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With an aim to develop the new sensors for optical detection of Hg2+ions, two novel fluorometric sensors were designed and successfully prepared using 2-(3-(2-aminoethylsulfanyl)propylsulfanyl)ethanamine and one or twoN-methylnaphthalimide moieties (1and2). Sensor1was obtained viaN-alkylation,N-imidation and a one-pot nucleophilic aromatic substitution, andN-formylation of the amine, while sensor2was prepared viaN-alkylation,N-imidation, and nucleophilic aromatic substitution. The characterization, including1H NMR,13C NMR, and mass spectrometry, was then performed for1and2. The Hg2+-binding behaviors of the sensors were investigated in terms of sensitivity and selectivity by fluorescence spectroscopy. Sensor1especially provided the reversible and highly Hg2+-selective ON-OFF fluorescence behavior by discriminating various interfering ions such as Pb2+, Co2+, Cd2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, K+, Na+, and in particular Cu2+and Ag+with a detection limit of 22 ppb toward Hg2+ions.