A colorimetric and fluorometric dual-modal sensor for methanol based on a functionalized pentacenequinone derivative.

A functionalized pentacenequinone derivative, ZR1, as a highly selective sensor for methanol has been prepared. Based on the methanol-induced keto-enol tautomerization of the pentacene-quinone moiety, ZR1 shows specific selectivity toward methanol, which leads to dual-modal detection of methanol with a very low detection limit of 0.038% in ethanol.