Highly sensitive and selective fluorescent chemosensor for Ni(2+) based on a new poly(arylene ether) with terpyridine substituent groups.

A new poly(arylene ether) (PAET) with terpyridine substituent groups has been synthesized which shows a turn-off fluorescent response in the presence of Ni(2+) over other cations and allows discrimination of these cations from each other on the basis of the extent of quenching.