A bifunctional probe based on naphthalene derivative for absorbance-ratiometic detection of Ag+ and fluorescence “turn-on” sensing of Zn2+ and its practical application in water samples, walnut and living cells

Abstract In this work, naphthalene with good biocompatibility was selected, and the probe NBOS was synthesized with 2-Amino-phenol and 2-Amino-benzenethiol. The structure of probe NBOS was confirmed by X-ray Crystallography. Furthermore, the probe showed absorbance-ratiometic sensing for Ag+ over a pH range from 6 to 7.5 and fluorescence “turn on” signal response towards Zn2+ in the pH range of 6–10 in EtOH/H2O (9/1, V/V, pH = 7.4) mixture. The detection limit was obtained to be 4.24 μM for Ag+ and 3.17 nM for Zn2+. Moreover, it could be efficiently recycled by treating Na2EDTA. The sensing mechanism of probe NBOS toward Ag+ and Zn2+ was investigated by FT-IR, HNMR, job’plot and ESI-MS. Typically, the coordination mode of NBOS with Zn2+ was confirmed by DFT calculation. Moreover, probe NBOS was successfully applied in the detection Ag+ and Zn2+ in real water samples. Importantly, probe NBOS could be used to detect Zn2+ in walnut and living cells. Based on the high throughput analysis strategy, absorbance and fluorescence signals of NBOS could be designed as a NOT and OR logic gate controlled by Ag+ (Input 1) and Zn2+ (Input 2).