A Chromo-Fluorogenic Synthetic “Canary” for CO Detection Based on a Pyrenylvinyl Ruthenium(II) Complex

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society 2014-08, Vol.136 (34), p.11930-11933
• Main Authors: Moragues, María E, Toscani, Anita, Sancenón, Félix, Martı́nez-Máñez, Ramón, White, Andrew J. P, Wilton-Ely, James D. E. T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Carbon Monoxide - analysis; Coordination Complexes - chemical synthesis; Coordination Complexes - chemistry; Fluorescent Dyes - chemical synthesis; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; Molecular Structure; Pyrenes - chemical synthesis; Pyrenes - chemistry; Ruthenium - chemistry; Sensitivity and Specificity; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Vinyl Compounds - chemical synthesis; Vinyl Compounds - chemistry
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja507014a

The chromo-fluorogenic detection of carbon monoxide in air has been achieved using a simple, inexpensive system based on ruthenium­(II). This probe shows exceptional sensitivity and selectivity in its sensing behavior in the solid state. A color response visible to the naked eye is observed at 5 ppb of CO, and a remarkably clear color change occurs from orange to yellow at the onset of toxic CO concentrations (100 ppm) in air. Even greater sensitivity (1 ppb) can be achieved through a substantial increase in turn-on emission fluorescence in the presence of carbon monoxide, both in air and in solution. No response is observed with other gases including water vapor. Immobilization of the probe on a cellulose strip allows the system to be applied in its current form in a simple optoelectronic device to give a numerical reading and/or alarm.