Anthracene and porphyrin-based conjugated microporous polymer for nitrofuran antibiotics and nitroaromatic explosives detection

Given the growing threat of antibiotic pollutants to the natural environment and human health, detecting nitrofuran antibiotics rapidly, selectively, and at trace levels is crucial but presents a challenging task. In this work, we synthesized a novel luminescent conjugated microporous polymer (AP-CMP) through the polycondensation of 9,10-bis(4-formylphenyl) anthracene with pyrrole to form porphyrinic linkages. The designed porphyrin-formed reaction successfully prevents unfavorable quenching due to the aggregation and π-π stacking of highly conjugated anthracene building blocks. The as-formed highly extended and conjugated structure endows AP-CMP with high fluorescence, porosity, and the ability to selectively and rapidly detect nitrofuran antibiotics through fluorescence quenching. AP-CMP has low detection limits of 0.62 ppm for Nitrofurazone (NFZ), 0.67 ppm for Nitrofurantoin (NFT), and 0.77 ppm for Furazolidone (FZD). Furthermore, owing to its inherent electron-donating capabilities, AP-CMP has remarkable ability to identify 2,4,6-trinitrophenol from other nitroaromatic compounds via a turn-off response with a 0.2 ppm limit of detection (LOD). With its anti-interference features, high stability, reusability, metal-free nature, and potential for large-scale production, AP-CMP provides a promising dual-functional sensor platform for practical applications.