A selective Fluorescence Chemosensor: Pyrene motif Schiff base derivative for detection of Cu2+ ions in living cells

Abstract A Schiff-base molecule, pyrene motif chemosensor 1 has been synthesized and performed for the fluorescent detection of Cu 2+ ions via the inhibition of the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process. Results were observed the exceptional selectivity towards Cu 2+ in DMSO-H 2 O, (1:1 v/v, HEPES = 50 mM, pH = 7.4) and the association constant (K a ) for chemosensor 1 was binding to Cu 2+ system have a value of 1.16 × 10 4 M −1 . In addition, the chemosensor 1 has been used as a fluorescence probe for detecting Cu 2+ ions in living cells and its binding phenomenon abilities were confirmed by bio-imaging and spectroscopic methods.