Interaction of water with a benzimidazole derivative: fluorescence and colorimetric recognition of trace level water involving intra-molecular charge transfer process

Benzimidazole-derived ICT-based probe, DFPBEN is developed for trace level determination of water. In presence of water, the naked eye color of DFPBEN changes from red to yellow, while it turns to green from red under UV light. Upon addition of water, DFPBEN shows a ratiometric absorbance change in methanol. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.