Chemosensors Based on Organic Fluorescent Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications

Abstract

The use of fluorescent organic nanoparticles for the determination of analyte is an emerging area of research. For this purpose, fluorescence spectroscopy is a useful technique due to its high sensitivity, selectivity and ease of operation. In this work, two new chemosesors based on Organic Fluorescent Nanoparticles (OFNs) are designed and synthesized for the detection of 2,4,6 Trinitrophenol and mercury respectively in water. The reaction of (E)-1-(4-(heptyloxy)phenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-one with thiosemicarazide and phenecyl bromide in equimolar quantities provided 3-(4-(Heptyloxy)phenyl)-5-phenyl-1-(5- phenylthiazol-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole which was later converted into its nanoparticles by reprecipitation technique; served as a simple and highly selective sensor for TNP among a mixture of nitrophenols. For selective detection of mercury, molecule based on thiourea have been synthesized by the simple and convenient reaction of 4-(4-aminophenoxy)benzenamine with isothiocyante in 1:1 ratio. The resultant product was then transformed into nanoparticles. The chemosensor based on organic fluorescent nanoparticles described in thesis would serve as the platform for further development of small organic molecules in sensing applications especially in aqueous medium.