Colorimetric and turn-on fluorescence detection of Ag(I) ion

In the present work, we have synthesized a new probe 2,-2-disulfediyl bis-(N-anthracen-9-ylmethylene)ethanamine (Cysan) based on anthracene platform. The probe was characterized using NMR spectroscopy, UV-visible, emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The probe was tested for its sensing behaviour towards metal ions like Mn2+, Fe2+, Ba2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Ca2+, Al3+, Cu2+,Cu+, Cr3+, zn(2+), pb(2+), Cd2+, Na+, Au+, Hg2+ and Ag+ in the ethanol/water mixture buffered with HEPES (pH = 7.4) by UV-visible and fluorescent techniques. It shows high selectivity towards sensing Ag+ metal ions. Importantly fluorescence enhancement at 440 nm was observed for probe upon complexation with Ag+ ions over other metal ions. This fluorescence enhancement is attributable to the restriction of the C=N isomerization and the prevention of photoinduced electron transfer from nitrogen to anthracene fluorophore. These photonic studies indicate that the probe can be adopted as a selective, sensitive and reversible fluorescent chemosensor for Ag+ ions. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.