Nucleophilic addition-triggered lanthanide luminescence allows detection of amines by Eu(thenoyltrifluoroacetone)3.

Herein, a novel fluorescent indicator for the real-time monitoring of amines is described. This probe contains a complex of europium-(thenoyltrifluoroacetone)(3) (Eu(TTA)(3)) that efficiently reacts with primary and secondary amines. The electron-withdrawing trifluoroacetyl undergoes a nucleophilic addition with amines, and the complex was used to selectively detect BuNH(2) and Et(2) NH (quenching concentration for BuNH(2): 10(-4) M, for Et(2)NH: 1.2 × 10(-3) M) by monitoring emission; no changes were observed in the emission spectrum of Eu(TTA)(3) in the presence of Et(3)N, [Bu(4)N]Cl, or PhNH(2) in aqueous solution (THF/H(2)O = 1:1). The ratio of emission intensity to amine concentration was linear by the least-squares fitting method.