1-(2-Hydroxy-1-naphthyl)ethan-1-one

1-(2-Hydroxy-1-naphthyl)ethan-1-one is a carbonyl compound that can be used as a fluorescent probe for the determination of copper(II) ions. It has been shown to have selective binding properties and fluorescence properties with cancer cells, which may be due to its ability to bind to the active methylene group of the cancer cell's protein. Crystallographic studies have shown that 1-(2-Hydroxy-1-naphthyl)ethan-1-one binds to hydrogen bonds and hydroxide solution in water.