A water-soluble ribosyl-based fluorescent sensor for Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions

A water-soluble ribosyl-based fluorescent sensor 5 was prepared. The sensor contains an anthracene as the fluorophore and a set of complex groups as recognition sites, which bears two triazole ring spacers linked to two ribosyl carboxylic acids groups. The association constants of 5 in water are 2.15 x 10(5) M-1 and 9.57 x 10(4) M-1 for Cu2+ and Hg2+ ions, respectively, and both metals formed complexes with 5 at a 1:1 metal to ligand ratio. The binding of 5 to Cu2+ shows a broad pH range (5-10) and a low detection limit (57 ppb) in water, thus indicating it an efficient and promising cation probe. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.