Facile fluorescent detection of o-nitrophenol by a cucurbit[8]uril-based supramolecular assembly in aqueous media

The efficient and selective detection of isomers is an attractive but challenging area. In this study, a supramolecular fluorescent probe based on cucurbit[8]uril (Q[8]) and a pyrene-based derivative (G) was prepared, which effectively recognized and removed o-nitrophenol (o-NP) from a mixture of nitrophenol isomers. The newly designed probe G@Q[8] was characterized by NMR spectroscopy, fluorescence emission and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and its host-guest properties in aqueous solution were investigated. The results revealed that the system forms a stable inclusion complex with a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1, which was accompanied by a distinct fluorescence enhancement of G. Moreover, it was employed for the rapid detection of nitrophenol isomers where o-NP showed a dramatical quenching efficiency with a detection limit of 1.53 × 10^-7 mol·L^-1. This highly efficient supramolecular fluorescent probe offers a new strategy for the convenient detection and removal of o-NP from mixtures in aqueous medium.