A smart low-molecular-mass naphthalene-pyrazoline gelator: Gelation behavior and selective fluorescent detection Cu2+

A smart low-molecular-mass organic gelator based on naphthalene-pyrazoline has been designed and synthesized. The gelator G can form a thermo reversible stable gel in tert -butanol, cyclohexane, cyclohexanol, and DMSO through self-assembly, it emits blue and yellow-green fluorescence under ultraviolet radiation. Notably, it has multiple stimulus responses of light, heat, shock and ion. In addition, it could act as an efficient fluorescent probe for the selective sensing of Cu 2+ in the solution containing water. The detection limit of Cu 2+ in THF deionized aqueous solution (V:V = 9:1) is 5.65 × 10 −8 M. The complex ratio of G to Cu 2+ is 1:1. In addition, the G has good biocompatibility in living cells.