Tetraphenylethylene-vitamin E Conjugates as sensitive aggregation-induced emission probes for selective detection of explosive FOX-7

Highlights: • Two novel compounds with good AIE property were synthesized. • Selectively fluorescent response toward explosive FOX-7. • Probes have strong anti-interference capabilities, and are not disturbed by various ions in the natural environment. • The corresponding filter paper and cotton swabs prepared have practical application value. With the increasingly severe international security situation, the application of explosives is more and more extensive, and the probes that can detect the explosives quickly and efficiently have attracted people's attention. In this work, two novel probes T₁ and T₂ were synthesized through vitamin E succinate and tetraphenylethylene derivative. Fluorescence spectra showed that both T₁ and T₂ had a typical aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect in THF/H₂O solution, and explosive FOX-7 could effectively quench this fluorescence without being affected by other explosives or ions. The filter paper and cotton rods prepared with these two probes could detect FOX-7 specifically, which also provided the possibility for practical application on the battlefield.