Based on specific reactivity of the vinyloxy group to Hg²⁺ ions, a new ratiometric phenanthroimidazole-based fluorescent sensor, 2-(2-(vinyloxy)phenyl)-1 H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole, is prepared. The selectivity of the probe toward Hg²⁺ ions is very high, and shows minimal interference from other commonly coexistent metal ions. The reactive stoichiometry of the probe with Hg²⁺ ion is 2:1. Its detection limit is evaluated and Hg²⁺ ions can be detected down to a lower limit of 2.5×10⁻⁸ M. Moreover, the Hg²⁺-promoted selective hydrolysis of a vinyloxy group of the probe is further confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

A series of new fluorescent chemosensors 5a–5e, composed of two aminonaphthalimide fluorophores and 2,6-bis((N-aminoalkyl)aminocarboxy)pyridines, were prepared, characterized, and their fluorescent properties towards heavy and transition metal (HTM) ions were investigated. Chemosensors 5c–5e exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity for Cu²⁺ ion over other HTM ions with fluorescent quenching (green to colourless). It clearly demonstrated that the length of the linkers (diamines) between the aminonaphthalimides and 2,6-dicarboxypyridine of 5a–5e was very important for their sensitivity and selectivity for Cu²⁺ ion over other HTM ions.

To find more potent antifungal compounds, twenty 3-acylindole analogs were synthesized and bio-evaluated for their antifungal activities against seven phytopathogenic fungi. Structure–activity relationships investigations revealed that 4- or 6-methyl and 3-acetyl or propionyl groups were the important structural properties of 3-acylindoles for the activities. Especially 4-methyl-3-propionylindole, 12, displayed the more potent activities than hymexazol, a commercially available agricultural fungicide, and might be considered as a new promising lead candidate for further design and synthesis of agricultural fungicides.

A new fluorescent chemosensor based upon 1,8-naphthalimide and 8-hydroxyquinoline was synthesized, and its fluorescent properties in the presence of different metal cations (Hg²⁺, Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ba²⁺) were investigated. It displayed fluorescence quenching with some heavy and transition metal (HTM) ions, and the quenching strongly depended on the nature of HTM ions.

An efficient synthesis of N-arylsulfonylindoles from indoles and arylsulfonyl chlorides in the presence of triethylbenzylammonium chloride (TEBA) and NaOH at room temperature is described.

In an ionic liquid [Bmim]BF₄ (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate), an efficient anhydrous K₂CO₃-mediated tandem deprotection of (un)substituted phenyl methanesulfonates and nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions (S_NAr) with activated (un)substituted phenyl halides to synthesize unsymmetrical diphenyl ethers has been described. The solvent could be recycled without loss of any efficiency, and the procedure was quite convenient, practical and environmentally benign.