A new highly selective fluorescent sensor for detection of Cd2+ and Hg2+ based on two different approaches in aqueous solution

A new fluorescence sensor (L) derived from 8-hydroxy-2-methylquinoline has been developed. This sensor can selectively detect Cd2+ in aqueous buffer solution based on chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) and exhibit an almost 30-fold fluorescence increase. Besides, the complex (LCd) can also be considered as a good ON-OFF sensor for Hg2+ based on photoinduced electron transfer (PET). The sensor could be applied for fluorescence microscopic imaging. (c) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.