A highly selective colorimetric chemosensor for cyanide and sulfide in aqueous solution: experimental and theoretical studies?

New Journal of Chemistry Pub Date: 2016-07-12 DOI: 10.1039/C6NJ01832G

Abstract

A new colorimetric chemosensor 1 was developed by a combination of 4-(p-tolyl)thiazol-2-amine and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde. Sensor 1 showed selective colorimetric responses to CN? and S2? in aqueous solution. A clear color change of 1 from yellow to colorless was observed with CN? through a nucleophilic addition mechanism, while S2? was detected through a deprotonation mechanism with a distinct color change from yellow to orange. The binding stoichiometries of 1 with CN? and S2? were proposed to be 1?:?1, based on the Job plot, 1H NMR titration and ESI-mass spectrometry analysis. Additionally, the sensing mechanisms of 1 for CN? and S2? were theoretically explained by DFT and TD-DFT calculations. Moreover, 1 could be used to quantify CN? in water samples.

Graphical abstract: A highly selective colorimetric chemosensor for cyanide and sulfide in aqueous solution: experimental and theoretical studies
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