Tailor-made dicationic ionic liquid as a fluorescent sensor for detection of hydroquinone and catechol

We are exploring a geminal dicationic ionic liquid (DCIL), 1,1'-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(4-aminopyridin-1-ium) dihydroxide, [C-3(Amp)(2)][OH](2) as a fluorescent probe for detection of dihydroxybenzenes viz. hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CC). Simple and sensitive spectrofluorometric method is described which accomplished with efficient quenching of fluorescence of aqueous DCIL by dihydroxybenzenes. The sensor offers good linear detection range of 1-400 mu M and 1-1000 mu M with detection limits of 0.31 mu M and 0.40 mu M for HQ and CC, respectively. Under alkaline conditions HQ/CC oxidizes to corresponding benzoquinones which interact with DCIL and consequently quenching of fluorescence is occurred. This essential alkaline condition is in situ provided by purposefully tuned DCIL to having basic nature. The plausible quenching mechanism that involves photo-induced charge transfer pathway is evidently discussed. The proposed method is competent over a broad detection range. Selectivity of method is demonstrated by scrutinizing intervention of various interfering species. Recoveries from water sample analysis emphasize the possible use of DCIL probe in the detection of HQ and CC from water sources. The proposed method certainly confers a new approach in sensing techniques for dihydroxybenzenes. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.