SENSING OF POLAR-MOLECULES USING SOLID-STATE FLUORESCENCE ENHANCEMENT OF 2-(DIPHENYLACETYL)-1,3-INDANDIONE-1-HYDRAZONE DERIVATIVES

The use of several derivatives of 2-(diphenylacetyl)-1,3-indandione-1-hydrazone for the fluorescence detection of polar organic compounds of environmental significance is described. Measurements performed using a fibre optic probe interfaced to a scanning fluorescence spectrophotometer are reported and spectral data and quantum yields in the solid state are tabulated. The fluorescence enhancement of 2-(diphenylacetyl)-1,3-indandione-1-(p-hydroxyl)benzaldazine is found to be the largest of the five derivatives studied and is strongly dependent on the size and polarity of the target molecule. Non-polar target molecules show no effect. Fluorescing molecular sensors of this type offer an alternative to optochemical methods based on a change in the UV-absorbing properties of the sensing molecule.