Selective detection of mercury ions using benzothiazole based colorimetric chemosensor

Three new receptors L1, L2 and L3 were designed and synthesized in a single pot synthesis. The synthesized receptors were characterized by H-1 NMR, FT-IR and Mass spectrometry. The cation binding affinity was studied using colorimetric and UV-Vis spectral methods for the three receptors. Receptor L1 showed high selectivity with a significant color change from yellow to colorless (turn-off response) in the presence of Hg2+ ions over the other cations such as, Ni2+, Cr3+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Zn2+ and Fee} and the receptor L2, 13 did not show any color change or change in the absorption in UV-Vis spectral studies with Hg2+ ions and other tested metal ions, this may be due to lack of-OH group in receptor L2 and L3. The B-H Plot shown 1:1 complex between L1 and Hg2+ ions. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.