A Bisferrocene-Benzobisimidazole Triad as a Multichannel Ditopic Receptor for Selective Sensing of Hydrogen Sulfate and Mercury Ions

The bisferrocene-benzobisimidazole triad behaves as a selective redox and fluorescent chemosensor for HSO4- and Hg2+ ions, exhibiting an easily detectable signal change in both the redox potential of the ferrocene/ferrocinium redox couple and in the emission band which is red-shitted (Delta lambda = 10-13 nm) and enhanced in intensity (Chelation Enhanced Fluorescence, CHEF = 486-225) upon complexation with these ions, in EtOH solutions.