Rapid and highly selective relay recognition of Cu(II) and sulfide ions by a simple benzimidazole-based fluorescent sensor in water

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Chemical, 2013-08, Vol.185, p.188-194
• Main Authors: Tang, Lijun, Cai, Mingjun, Huang, Zhenlong, Zhong, Keli, Hou, Shuhua, Bian, Yanjiang, Nandhakumar, Raju
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Benzimidazole; copper; Copper displacement; Copper(II) recognition; detection limit; Fluorescence; ions; Sulfide recognition
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2013.04.109

We report a simple but effective benzimidazole derivative 1 for rapid, highly selective and sensitive successive recognition of Cu2+ and S2− in 100% water solution at pH 6.0. To realize highly selective relay recognition of Cu2+ and sulfide ions, a simple benzimidazole-based fluorescent chemosensor (1) was designed and synthesized. Sensor 1 displays rapid, highly selective and sensitive recognition to Cu2+ in 100% water solution at pH 6.0. The in situ generated 1-Cu2+ complex solution exhibit a fast response and high selectivity toward sulfide anion via Cu2+ displacement approach. The detection limits of sensor 1 to Cu2+ and 1-Cu2+ complex to sulfide anion were estimated to be 3.5×10−7M and 1.35×10−6M, respectively. Proof-of-concept experiment results demonstrate that sensor 1 has potential utilities for Cu2+ and sulfide ion concentration evaluation in real water samples. This successive recognition feature of sensor 1 makes it has a potential utility for Cu2+ and sulfide anion detection in water.