A fluorescent light-up probe for specific detection of Al3+ with aggregation-induced emission characteristic and self-assembly behavior

A fluorescent compound Tetra(3-[benzoylhydrazone] methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane (IV) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristic was synthesized and used as selective light-up probe for sensing of Al³⁺. Probe IV shows almost no fluorescence without Al³⁺, which is selectively enhanced with Al³⁺ by blocking the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process, and locking the isomerization of CN bond and the intramolecular rotation around this CN bond. Additionally, it is interesting to observe that IV can facilely self-assemble into discrete nano-leaves with strong fluorescence emission.