A novel 4H-furo[3,2-b]pyrrole derivative-based fluorescent probe for rapid and sensitive detection of hydrazine in environmental samples.

A novel fluorescent probe EFC, featuring a 4H-furo[3,2-b]pyrrole scaffold, was designed, synthesized, and investigated for its optical properties. EFC was identified as a novel hydrazine probe, which undergoes a nucleophilic substitution reaction with hydrazine. In the presence of hydrazine, EFC exhibits a color change from yellow to colorless under daylight, and a fluorescence change from yellow to blue under UV illumination. Additionally, EFC demonstrates acid-base tolerance, coupled with high selectivity and sensitivity for residual N2H4. Furthermore, paper strips loaded with EFC were fabricated and used with a smartphone to enable point-of-care visual detection of N2H4. The use of EFC for detecting N2H4 in real water samples demonstrated recovery rates spanning from 98.60% to 101.36%, with relative standard deviations between 1.72% and 1.74%, thereby affirming the method's accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, the probe exhibits equivalent efficacy in identifying residual hydrazine within soil samples and a silica support. Consequently, this research introduces an innovative fluorescent probe for hydrazine detection, distinguished by its cost-effectiveness, facile fabrication process, and simple operation.