Synthesis and Application of a Naphthol‐Based Fluorescent Probe for Mercury(II) Detection

A sensitive analytical method for detecting trace levels of mercury(II) in diverse samples is desperately needed owing to its notoriously toxic. In this study, we have developed a novel fluorescent probe 2,2′‐((6‐hydroxynaphthalen‐2‐yl) methylene) bis (sulfanediyl) diacetic acid (Probe 1 ) for the sensitive detection of Hg 2+ . Probe 1 could detect Hg 2+ content in CH 3 CN/buffer (pH 6.0) solution. Probe 1 has a low detection limit (1.34 nM) and the detection range was 0–8 μM. The luminescent intensity of Probe 1 in a CH 3 CN/buffer (pH 6.0) solution increased with the concentration of Hg 2+ over two minutes, as observed under a 254 nm UV lamp. Furthermore, this phenomenon was observed using test papers of Probe 1 . Importantly, Probe 1 could detect Hg 2+ in wheat, mineral water, rice, tap water, and kelp samples.