Colorimetric and Fluorometric Determination of Fluoride in Tetrahydrofuran and Dimethyl Sulfoxide Using a 4-Hydroxypyrene Probe.

F - ions (fluoride ions) are crucial in various chemical waste and environmental safety contexts. However, excessive fluoride exposure can pose a threat to human well-being. In this study, a simple 4-substituted pyrene derivative known as 4-hydroxypyrene ( 4-PyOH ) was designed as a colorimetric probe for detecting F - through the formation of hydrogen bonds between F - and a hydroxyl group. The probe 4-PyOH exhibited exceptional sensitivity and selectivity towards F - ions and was successfully utilized as test strips for detecting F - ions in organic solvents. The detection limit reached an impressively low level of 3.06 × 10 -7  M in the organic solvent. The recognition mechanism was confirmed through 1 H NMR titration.