Abstract
A new symmetrical blue fluorescent tripod containing three 1,8-naphtalimide fragments has been synthesized. Its spectral properties have been investigated in organic solvents of different polarity. Its basic photophysical characteristics depend strongly on the polarity of the organic solvents. In nonpolar solvents (diethyl ether, chloroform and toluene) the new tripod emits eximer fluorescence. The new tripod has been investigated as a ligand for detection of metal ions (Ag+, Co2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+) in acetonitrile and acetonitrile/H2O (1:4, v/v). The influence of protons in an ethanol-water (1:4, v/v) solution and in toluene and diethyl ether solvents on the tripod fluorescence intensity has been investigated and it has been shown that the protons destroy the excimer formations recovering the monomer fluorescence. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.