A new ruthenium(II) complex (cis-ruthenium-bis[2,2 -bipyridine]-bis[4-aminothiophenol]-bis[hexafluorophosphate]) has been synthesized and characterized using standard analytical and spectroscopic techniques, FTIR, 1 H and 13 C-NMR, UV/vis, elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, and potentiometric titration. Investigation of the synthesized complex with metal ions showed that this complex has photochemical properties that are selective and sensitive toward the presence of mercuric ion in aqueous solution. The detection limit for mercuric ions using UV/vis spectroscopy was estimated to be ∼ 0.4 ppm. The results presented herein may have an important implication in the development of a spectroscopic selective detection for mercuric ions in aqueous solution.

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