Benzo[de]naphtho[1,8-gh]quinolines: synthesis, photophysical studies and nitro explosives detection

Abstract

A rational synthetic approach to substituted naphtho[1,8-gh]quinolines based on intramolecular cyclization in the presence of potassium in the series of (naphthalen-1-yl)isoquinolines is described. The photophysical properties of the obtained compounds were studied; in particular, fluorescence emission was detected in the range 454–482 nm with a quantum yield of up to 54%. We also calculated the HOMO-LUMO energies and optimized molecular structures for the resulting fluorophores. Based on the results of fluorescence titration, the Stern-Volmer constants (up to 21587 M–1) and the detection limits of nitroanalytes (up to 1.4 ppm) were calculated, confirming the possibility of their use as potential chemosensors for the visual detection of nitro-containing explosives.