A Novel Azobenzene-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Selective Detection of Mercury Ion

Abstract

A highly sensitive fluorescent probe (3) for selective detection of mercury based on an azobenzene derivative with 1,3,4-triazole units has been designed, synthesized, and examined for their cation recognition abilities toward various cations by UV-vis, fluorescence. The fluorescent probe (3) exhibits a highly selective response of fluorescence enhancement toward mercury in DMF aqueous media (DMF: H 2 O, v/v=1:1).

Synthesis and Mercury ion Recognition of a Novel Azobenzene Derivative Bearing Naphthalene Units

“…A few fluorescent chemosensors based on azobenzene that display selectivity to heavy and transition metal cations have been reported. [6][7][8][9] However, since there are only limited reports about recognition of heavy metal cations, such as Hg 2+ , 10,11 there is a need for good sensors and further efforts are required to develop them. Here we describe a new fluorescent chemosensor, based on the azobenzene framework with the azo group as ionophore and naphthyl as fluorophore, which has metal-binding properties and shows a selective and sensitive fluorescence enhancement response to the Hg 2+ ion.…”