Fluorescence sensing of Cu2+ and Hg2+ by a dipyrene ligand involving an excimer-switch off mechanism

A novel dipyrene ligand 1 has been designed which shows intramolecular excimer formation in solution. Its specific interaction with Cu2+ or Hg2+ leads to the disruption of the excimer and results in a fluorescence-mediated sensing of these ions in a mixed organic-aqueous solution. Apart from steady-state studies, time-resolved fluorescence measurements also reveal that excimer-switch off caused by metal ion coordination leads to the selective detection of these ions.