A Non-Bonding Interaction-Based Fluorescent Probe for Detection of Halogenated Carbonyl Compounds.

[Display omitted] • A general, selective, and sensitive probe for volatile halogenated carbonyl compounds. • The detection limit of the fluorescent probe was at the nM level. • Application of the probe in the efficient determination of yields for organic reactions. • Mechanism studies revealed a non-bonding interaction of analyst and probe. The fluorescent detection of neutral and volatile carbonyl halogenated compounds had not been studied before. We describe here a simple and sensitive turn-on rhodamin fluorescent probe for the selective detection of fluorinated/brominated/chlorinated/iodinated carbonyl compounds. A wide range of linear or cyclic volatile organic halides was detected with a limit of detection as low as 45.6 nM within 1 min. Mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations indicate the reversible formation of a 1:1 complex of sensor and analyst through non-bonding interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]