Mechanochemistry: Pyrene Derivatives in the Detection of Select Metals

Metals are found naturally in the environment and expelled through industrial waste. When absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or ingested, many metals have been proven to cause numerous health problems. Mechanochemistry using a mortar and pestle grinding shows promise in capture and detection of toxic metals. This method allows for an on-site, cost effective, simple, solvent free, and environmentally friendly metal coordination. Pyrene derivatives with diethylenetriamine and bis(3-aminopropyl)amine linkers have shown to be successful fluorescent receptors serving as a Lewis bases in the reactions. After coordination, color changes are observed in visible light and UV light. Metal salts that exhibit strong fluorescent character in UV light include sodium, cadmium, iron(II), sliver, potassium, nickel(II), magnesium, europium(III), gadolinium(III), aluminum, and mercury(II). While iron(III), cobalt(II), manganese(II), copper(II), and chromium(III) show small quantities of fluorescent character to none