Design of a water soluble 1,8-naphthalimide/3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone conjugate: Investigation of its spectroscopic properties at variable pH and in the presence of Fe3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+

Abstract

The synthesis and sensing properties of a new fluorescent probe designed to have a 4-amino-1,8naphthalimide fluorescent platform functionalized with a 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone bidentate chelating unit at the 4-position and a terminal aliphatic dimethylamino group at the imide site, are reported. The absorption and fluorescence properties of the ligand were investigated in DMSO and in aqueous solution at variable pH and in the presence of increasing concentration of Fe 3þ ,C u 2þ and Zn 2þ . Analysis of the UVeVis spectra at variable pH allowed the determination of three pKa values (pKa1 ¼ 3.19, pKa2 ¼ 8.38, pKa3 ¼ 9.95) and establishment of the corresponding speciation diagram. Fluorescence spectra obtained in the same conditions show that the fluorescence intensity of the probe decreases with increasing pH and are off above pH 9 as a result of photo-induced electron transfer arising from the aliphatic dimethylamino group. Under physiological pH conditions, the probe shows an absorption band centred at 439 nm and emits in the green at l ¼ 536 nm. Analysis of UVeVis and EPR spectra of the ligand in the presence of Fe 3þ and Cu 2þ is consistent with the formation of the corresponding metal ion complexes. The fluorescence intensity of the ligand is quenched in the presence of variable concentrations of Fe 3þ ,C u 2þ and Zn 2þ and under physiological pH conditions the fluorescence of the probe is ca 92%, 88% and 91% quenched in the presence of Fe 3þ ,C u 2þ and Zn 2þ respectively.