Coumarins as turn on/off fluorescent probes for detection of residual acetone in cosmetics following headspace single-drop microextraction

Direct immersion single-drop microextraction combined with fluorescence detection using an optical probe. Application for highly sensitive determination of rhodamine 6G

The use of an optical probe for fluorescence detection combined with direct immersion single-drop microextraction has been demonstrated as an innovative approach. The optical probe served both as a drop holder for extractant and as a measuring device which made it possible to eliminate the use of cuvettes. A laser and a light emitting diode (LED) were tested as possible light sources. Both of them showed comparable results. However, given the much smaller half-band width of the laser radiation, its use has proven to be preferable since background correction can be eliminated. Direct immersion single-drop microextraction of an ionic association complex of rhodamine 6G with picric acid with subsequent fluorescent detection (λex was 532 nm and 525 nm for laser and LED, respectively; λem was 560 nm for both laser and LED) was used a model system to evaluate the new approach. The extractant phase was a 55 μL amyl acetate microdrop fixed in the optical part of the probe. LOD, LOQ and linear calibration range were found as 0.14, 0.48 and 0.5-10 nmol L-1, and 0.15, 0.50 and 0.5-5 nmol L-1 for laser and LED light sources, respectively. The accuracy of the method was assessed by analyzing real water samples.

A ratiometric solid AIE sensor for detection of acetone vapor

Acetone serves as a routine solvent and synthetic intermediate in chemical factories and laboratories. Monitoring the level of acetone vapor in working environment is of great necessity to employee health due to its strong volatility and toxicity, but there is still in lack of simple and easy-to-use portable sensors. In this study, we report a portable and intuitive indicator for real-time displaying acetone vapor concentration in air, based on the ratiometric fluorescence response of the designed organic molecule, PhB-SSB, to acetone. As an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorophore, PhB-SSB underwent specific reaction with acetone through the salicylaldehyde Schiff base and phenylboronate groups to realize ratiometric fluorescence change from green to red after acetone vapor treatment. The reaction mechanism was proposed as acetone-induced breakage of the imine bond in PhB-SSB. We further fabricated PhB-SSB into a film fluorescent sensor for acetone vapor with good sensitivity and selectivity. Taking advantage of its intuitive fluorescent color contrast, acetone-specific response and small size, our sensor is practical in real-time alarming the acetone vapor hazard in the workplaces.

Current trends in sample preparation for cosmetic analysis

The widespread applications of cosmetics in modern life make their analysis particularly important from a safety point of view. There is a wide variety of restricted ingredients and prohibited substances that primarily influence the safety of cosmetics. Sample preparation for cosmetic analysis is a crucial step as the complex matrices may seriously interfere with the determination of target analytes. In this review, some new developments (2010-2016) in sample preparation techniques for cosmetic analysis, including liquid-phase microextraction, solid-phase microextraction, matrix solid-phase dispersion, pressurized liquid extraction, cloud point extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and microwave digestion, are presented. Furthermore, the research and progress in sample preparation techniques and their applications in the separation and purification of allowed ingredients and prohibited substances are reviewed.

Synthesis and photophysical properties of β-triazole bridged porphyrin–coumarin dyads

Novel β-triazole bridged porphyrin–coumarin dyads are synthesized via a Cu(i)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction and evaluated for their photophysical properties.