Colorimetric anion sensor based on receptor having indole- and thiourea-binding sites

RSC Advances Pub Date: 2014-05-09 DOI: 10.1039/C4RA01555J

Abstract

A new colorimetric sensor L containing nitro-substituted indole and bisthiocarbonohydrazone units for selective fluoride and acetate ions is designed and synthesized. The receptor L shows well-defined color change in the visible region of the spectrum with an absorption band at ~515 nm and 506 nm, respectively, for the F? and CH3COO? ions in an acetonitrile solution. Job's plots indicated the formation of 1?:?1 (L with CH3COO?) and 1?:?2 (L with F?) complexes. The interaction of L with the F? ion undergoes a deprotonation process and release of [HX2]?, whereas with the CH3COO? ion, it forms a stable [LH2X]?complex. The relative affinities of the anions with L are rationalized using computational studies.

Graphical abstract: Colorimetric anion sensor based on receptor having indole- and thiourea-binding sites
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