Development of a new fluorescent probe: 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-8-(4'-aminophenyl)-4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacence for the determination of trace nitrite.

A new fluorescent probe, 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-8-(4'-aminophenyl)-4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacence (TMABODIPY) has been developed for the determination of trace nitrite in terms of the reaction of nitrite with TMABODIPY first in acidic solution and then in alkaline solution to form diazotate, a stable and highly fluorescent reagent. The method offered the advantage of specificity, sensitivity and simplicity. The linear calibration range for nitrite was 8-300 nmol l-1s with a 3 sigma detection limit of 0.65 nmol l-1. The proposed method has been applied to monitor the trace nitrite in drinking water and vegetable without extraction.