A Highly Selective Fluorescent Sensor for Pb(2+) Based on a Modified β-Cyclodextrin.

A modified cyclodextrin is synthesized as an anthracene derivative of 6-deoxy- 6-aminoethylamino-β-cyclodextrin and characterized using IR, NMR, and mass spectral techniques. The compound acts as a sensor of Pb(2+) ions in a pool of several metal ions, by enhancement of fluorescence. The absorption spectrum does not show significant changes on the addition of metal ions.