A copolymer of 4-N,N-dimethylaminoethylene-N-allyl-1,8-naphthalimide with methylmethacrylate as a selective fluorescent chemosensor in homogeneous systems for metal cations

The basic photophysical characteristics of two fluorophores: monomeric N,N-dimethylaminoethylene-N-allyl-1,8-naphthalimide and methylmethacrylate based copolymer including N,N-dimethylaminoethylene-N-allyl-1,8-naphthalimide are described both in the absence and presence of Fe2+, Pb2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+ cations. It is shown that both the fluorophores can be used as homogeneous photo-induced electron transfer fluorescent sensors exhibiting fluorescence enhancement induced by metal ions. The copolymer is more responsive to the Fe2+ cations than to other cations under study.