An unexpected dual-response pH probe based on acridine

Liang Xu; Xiangzhen Yan; Chunxue Yuan

doi:10.1039/c8ra07283c

An unexpected dual-response pH probe based on acridine

RSC Adv. 2018 Oct 15;8(61):35289-35293. doi: 10.1039/c8ra07283c. eCollection 2018 Oct 10.

Authors

Liang Xu¹, Xiangzhen Yan², Chunxue Yuan¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University Caoan Road 4800 Shanghai 201804 P. R. China cxyuan@tongji.edu.cn.
² Department of Periodontology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tongji University, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Tooth Restoration and Regeneration Shanghai 200072 P. R. China.

Abstract

A new pH fluorescent probe 2,8-bis(acridin-9-ylethynyl)-6H,12H-5,11-methanodibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazocine (TBN), which has two acridine moieties attached to Tröger's base, is a useful fluorescent probe for monitoring extreme acidic and alkaline pH. TBN displays an excellent pH dependent behavior and responds linearly to extreme conditions in the pH ranges of 1.4-3.4 and 12.5-15.0. TBN can represent a novel type of fluorescent probe with perfect emission properties in extreme acidic and alkaline conditions by utilizing only one functional group.