Organic Synthesis -Napthalimide Synthesis for on-site detection of metals

Another analytical project of mine is devising a method or protocol that could eventually be designed to provide immediate "on site" testing of the levels of toxic substances (mercury, lead, and cadmium) in aquatic and terrestrial environments using novel fluorescent compounds. Recently a new class of patented naphthalimide compounds have been synthesized that are sensitive to the presence of mercury, lead, and cadmium. It is envisioned that other fluorescent compounds may be synthesized to detect many more heavy metals than just mercury, lead, and cadmium. The new class of fluorescent compounds has a characteristic fluorescent spectrum in the absence of these metals, while in their presence a change in the fluorescence spectra is observed.  Fluorescence is a light emission process that is easily monitored with a fluorimeter, which is a rather inexpensive instrument, compared to EPA standard protocol instruments. The availability of fluorescent detection makes this project very inviting. Since the compounds are sensitive to the presence of the metals a quantitative comparison may be made to determine the amounts of mercury, lead, and cadmium in natural environments. The naphthalimide classes of compounds have a unique chemistry. The compounds could be modified for specific purposes. We are also looking at the binding studies of these novel dyes with paramagnetic metal ions and other types of metal ions. We are looking at the binding of Na+, Li+, Cu2+, Al3+, Ni2+, Cr3+, Fe3+, Co3+ to the ED4 series of the dye. We are looking for trends in which speciation of individual metals could result.