Novel Approach toward Water-Soluble Singlet Oxygen Monitors Based on Hybrid Inorganic–Organic Nanoclay

A facile, novel approach for the preparation of water-soluble singlet oxygen (1O2) monitors based on an inorganic–organic hybrid material is proposed. It consists of a nanoclay carrier (“Laponite”) and 9,10-dimethylanthracene (DMA), both of which are readily accessible, even commercially at fairly low prices; on contact with 1O2, the fluorescent DMA is converted into the corresponding nonfluorescent endoperoxide. The applicability of the hybrid...