A Simple triazole-linked bispyrenyl-based xylofuranose derivative for selective and sensitive fluorometric detection of Cu2+

Abstract Triazole-linked xylofuranose derivatives having one pyrene or two pyrene moieties were synthesized and their fluorescence properties towards various cations and anions were investigated. Only, bis-triazoles appended bispyrenyl-based sugar derivative 1 exhibited selective and sensitive fluorescence quenching effect in the presence of Cu2+ ions over a wide range of cations and anions in acetonitrile. The ON-OFF type fluorescence response of 1 was explained by the conformational changes from strong excimer emission of pyrene to weak pyrene monomer emission due to an interaction between Cu2+ and inward-facing triazole groups. The limit of detection (LOD) of sensor 1 for Cu2+ was found to be 0.15 µM, which is well accepted as per WHO’s guidelines.