Selective fluoride ion recognition by a thiourea based receptor linked acridinedione functionalized gold nanoparticles

The design and synthesis of acridinedione functionalized gold nanoparticles based PET anion sensor 6 is described. The sensor 6 employs simple aromatic thiourea as anion receptors and the fluorophore is the acridinedione moiety, which were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV–vis, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. Upon selective recognition of F− in acetonitrile, the fluorescence emission of 6 was quenched with significant changes in the absorption spectrum. These changes are ascribed due to the hydrogen bonding and deprotonation of the thiourea receptor of ADDTU-GNPs.