Colorimetric signaling of hydrogen sulfide by reduction of a phenylseleno-nitrobenzoxadiazole derivative

A new reaction-based probe for the colorimetric signaling of hydrogen sulfide was developed. Reduction of the nitro group of a nitrobenzoxadiazole moiety to an amino group resulted in pronounced chromogenic signaling in the form of a yellow to pink color change. The transformation of the nitro group to amino group was confirmed by the H-1 NMR spectroscopy. The seleno derivative showed more efficient signaling behavior than the phenylthio and phenoxy analogues. Hydrogen sulfide signaling of phenylseleno-nitrobenzoxadiazole probe was fast and completed immediately after sample preparation. Selective signaling of hydrogen sulfide was possible in the presence of commonly encountered metal ions and anions with a detection limit of 2.1 x 10(-6) M. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.