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A Facile Preparation of a New Water-Soluble Acridine Derivative and Application as a Turn-off Fluorescence Chemosensor for Selective Detection of Hg2+

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Abstract

A new acridine-based chemosensor was prepared, characterized and investigated for quantitative detection of Hg2+ ions in aqueous solutions. DFT and TD-DFT calculations showed that formation of a coordination bond between Hg2+ and the thiolate-sensor accounts for the fluorescence quenching, forming [HgLSCl2]2− as the most stable species. Limit of detection and limit of quantification were as low as 4.40 and 14.7 μmol L−1, respectively (R2 = 0.9892, least squares method), and a linear concentration range of 14.7–100 μmol L−1. Benesi-Hildebrand and Job formalisms are in accordance with the formation of a stable complex with a 1:1 (metal ion/sensor) ratio, and a determined binding constant of 5.14 × 103 L mol−1. Robustness was verified based on the variation of several analytical conditions. In addition, the method presented maximum relative standard deviation of 4.6%, and recovery results was (90.3 ± 4,6)% from distilled water, with no effect of interfering ions. Analytical figures of merit showed that the sensor can be an attractive low cost alternative for detection of Hg2+.

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Acknowledgements

Brazilian Research Council CNPq supported this work. Authors thank CNPq and CAPES for research fellowships. CNPq Grant # 401119/2016-5. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001”. We gratefully thank Professor Leni Campos Akcelrud (Paulo Scarpa Laboratory, UFPR)

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  1. Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Cx. Postal 19081, Curitiba, PR, 81531-980, Brazil

    Marcelo Carpes Nunes, Fabiane dos Santos Carlos, Otávio Fuganti, Letícia Aparecida da Silva & Fábio Souza Nunes

  2. Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Cx. Postal 19031, Curitiba, PR, 81531-980, Brazil

    Hennrique Taborda Ribas & Sheila Maria Brochado Winnischofer

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  1. Marcelo Carpes Nunes
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Nunes, M.C., dos Santos Carlos, F., Fuganti, O. et al. A Facile Preparation of a New Water-Soluble Acridine Derivative and Application as a Turn-off Fluorescence Chemosensor for Selective Detection of Hg2+. J Fluoresc 30, 235–247 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-020-02489-z

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