A novel selective “turn-on’’ fluorescent sensor for Hg2+ and its utility for spectrofluorimetric analysis of real samples

Abstract

A novel anthracene-based dipodal Schiff base ‘‘turn-on’’ fluorescent sensor (FS) wasdesigned and synthesized by accessible and straightforward Schiff base reaction of salicylaldehyde and9,10-bis(aminomethyl)anthracene with high yield. The chemical characterization of fluorescent sensorFS was performed by standard spectroscopic techniques (MALDI-MS, FT-IR, 1H, and 13C NMR), andphotophysical properties were exanimated by UV-vis and fluorescent spectroscopies. The fluorescentsensor FS can coordinate with Hg2+ via Schiff base moiety when analytical signal as a “turn on”fluorescent response was obtained via anthracene moiety after coordination. Also, spectrofluorimetricanalysis of Hg2+ was carried out using fluorescent sensor FS in environmental water samples afteroptimization required experimental conditions such as pH, the time before measurements, andphotostability. According to obtained results, the presented fluorescent sensor can be used for selectiveand sensitive spectrofluorimetric determination of Hg2+.