Highly Sensitive Fluorescent Probe for Selective Detection of Hg²⁺

Abstract

A selective and sensitive chromogenic and fluorogenic dual signal responding fluoride-sensor (L), comprising the well-known rhodamine 6G fluorophore and 2,2′-bipyridine was prepared and spectroscopically characterized. After mercury ion was added to the CH₃CN solution of L, a color change from colorless to pink-red, which indicated that the sensor can serve as a sensitive “naked-eye” indicator for mercury ion. The high emission selectivity is due to the formation of L-Hg²⁺ 1:2 complex leads to spirocycle opening of L.

Keywords:

• rhodamine 6G derivative
• mercury ions
• chemo-sensor

Supplementary Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at the publisher's website. CCDC 938331 contains the supplementary crystallographic data for the ligand L. These data can be obtained free of charge from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Center via www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data_request/cif.

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the start-up fund for scientific research and the head of academic learning of Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy.