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The detection of nitrophenolic explosives is important in counterterrorism and environmental protection, but it is still a challenge to identify the nitroaromatic compounds among those with a similar structure. Herein, a simple tetraphenylethene (TPE) derivative with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics was synthesized and used as a fluorescent sensor for the detection of nitrophenolic explosives (2, 4, 6-trinitrophenol, TNP and 2, 4-dinitrophenol, DNP) in water solution and in a solid state with a high selectivity. Meanwhile, it was found that only hydroxyl containing nitrophenolic explosives caused obvious fluorescence quenching. The sensing mechanism was investigated by using fluorescence titration and 1H NMR spectra. This simple AIE-active probe can potentially be applied to the construction of portable detection devices for explosives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tetraphenylethylene (TPE) Schiff-base macrocycle showing an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect has been synthesized, which could aggregate into nanospheres and emit yellow fluorescence in aqueous media. By virtue of its AIE effect, the macrocycle showed a sensitive and selective response to 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) among a number of nitroaromatic compounds, which could be used to detect TNP and DNP at nanomolar levels. Moreover, it exhibited a superamplified quenching effect with DNP but not with TNP, providing a possible means of discriminating these two compounds. In comparison with open-chain TPE Schiff-bases, the cavity of the macrocycle is essential for the selectivity for DNP over TNP. In addition, quantitative analyses of both DNP and TNP in real water samples and qualitative detection of these two analytes in the solid state by the macrocycle have been tested. The reliability of the quantitative analysis has been confirmed by HPLC. Our findings demonstrate that the TPE Schiff-base macrocycle has great potential as an excellent sensor for DNP and TNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]