Concise design and synthesis of water-soluble fluorescence sensor for sequential detection of Zn(II) and picric acid via cascade mechanism

Under microwave assistance, 2,6-bis(benzimidazolyl)-pyridine has been concisely synthesized and further productively converted to the functional molecule BMBP via accessible N-alkylation reaction. For the introduction of alkoxyalkyl chain, this original substance BMBP with better solubility in water exhibits specific fluorescence response toward Zn2+ from colourless to blue in aqueous solution. A sequential detection for picric acid (PA) can be...