Pyrene-Containing Polyamines as Fluorescent Receptors for Recognition of PFOA in Aqueous Media

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 28; no. 11; p. 4552
• Main Authors: Simonini Steiner, Yschtar Tecla, Romano, Giammarco Maria, Massai, Lara, Lippi, Martina, Paoli, Paola, Rossi, Patrizia, Savastano, Matteo, Bencini, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 05.06.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Ammonium; anion binding; Aqueous solutions; Chemical sensors; Chemoreceptors; Chromatography; Contaminants; Drinking water; Emissions; Environmental chemistry; Environmental effects; Fluorescence; Fluorescent indicators; fluorescent receptors; Ions; Long-term effects; Mass spectrometry; Molecular chains; Perfluoroalkyl & polyfluoroalkyl substances; Perfluorooctanoic acid; Pollutants; Polyamines; Pyrene; Quantum dots; Recognition; Scientific imaging; Sensors; supramolecular chemistry; Zinc; zinc complexes; United States > US; Europe; anion binding; perfluorooctanoic acid; polyamines; supramolecular chemistry; fluorescent receptors; zinc complexes
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114552

The globally widespread perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a concerning environmental contaminant, with a possible toxic long-term effects on the environment and human health The development of sensible, rapid, and low-cost detection systems is a current change in modern environmental chemistry. In this context, two triamine-based chemosensors, and , containing a fluorescent pyrene unit, and their Zn(II) complexes are proposed as fluorescent probes for the detection of PFOA in aqueous media. Binding studies carried out by means of fluorescence and NMR titrations highlight that protonated forms of the receptors can interact with the carboxylate group of PFOA, thanks to salt bridge formation with the ammonium groups of the aliphatic chain. This interaction induces a decrease in the fluorescence emission of pyrene at neutral and slightly acidic pH values. Similarly, emission quenching has also been observed upon coordination of PFOA by the Zn(II) complexes of the receptors. These results evidence that simple polyamine-based molecular receptors can be employed for the optical recognition of harmful pollutant molecules, such as PFOA, in aqueous media.