A fluorescent ammonia sensor based on a porphyrin cobalt(II)–dansyl complex

Detecting and measuring the concentration of ammonia is of interest in many scientific and technological areas. A porphyrin based cobalt(II) complex with a dansyl fluorophore has been synthesized and investigated as a ‘turn-on’ fluorescent ammonia sensor. Over sixfold increase in fluorescence emission occurs upon the treatment of NH3 to [Co(TPP)(Ds-pip)] sensor solution, resulting from NH3-induced displacement of the axially coordinated fluorophore.