A novel colorimetric and fluorescent probe for the highly selective and sensitive detection of palladium based on Pd(0) mediated reaction

Abstract In view of palladium contaminants and their adverse effects on human health, it is valuable to develop an effective probe for palladium. In this work, a coumarin-based colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent probe, Cou-1, for highly selective and sensitive detection of palladium was designed based on the Tsuji–Trost allylic reaction. Upon the addition of palladium to the solution of probe, the probe gave an emission peak at around 498 nm as well as displayed a selective chromogenic behavior toward palladium from colorless to yellow-green, which could be easily observed by the naked eye. Moreover, compared with typical transition metal cations and other common cations used, Cou-1 showed great selectivity toward palladium. Further, the detection limit toward palladium was calculated to be as low as 17.4 nM.