Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of a new 1,8-naphthalimide dyad as detector for metal cations and protons.

A new dyad containing two 1,8-naphthalimides has been synthesized. N,N-Dimetylaminoethylamino group has been used as substituent at C-4 position of the 1,8-naphthalimide chromophore structure. The photophysical characteristics of the dyad have been investigated in organic solvents with different polarity. In acetonitrile solution the newly synthesized dyad enhance its fluorescent intensity in the presence of metal cations (Ni(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), Pb(2)(+), Zn(2+), Fe(3+)) and protons due to quenching of photoinduced electron transfer.