An amide-based smart probe (L) is explored for nanomolar
detection of Mo(VI) ion in a ratiometric manner, involving hydrogen-bond-assisted
chelation-enhanced fluorescence process through inhibition of photoinduced
electron transfer process. The recognition of Mo(VI) is associated
with a 17-fold fluorescence enhancement and confirmed by single-crystal
X-ray diffraction of the resulting Mo(VI) complex (M1). Further, M1
selectively recognizes arsenite through green emission of their adduct
(C1) with an 81-fold fluorescence enhancement. Interestingly, dihydrogen
phosphate causes dissociation of C1 back to free L having weak fluorescence.
The methods are fast, highly selective, and allow their bare eye visualization
at physiological pH. All of the interactions have been substantiated
by time-dependent density functional theory calculations to rationalize
their spectroscopic properties. The corresponding lowest detection
limits are 1.5 × 10
–8
M for Mo(VI), 1.2 ×
10
–10
M for AsO
2
–
,
and 3.2 × 10
–6
M for H
2
PO
4
–
, whereas the respective association constants
are 4.21 × 10
5
M
–1
for Mo(VI), 6.49
× 10
4
M
–1
for AsO
2
–
, and 2.11 × 10
5
M
–1
for H
2
PO
4
–
. The L is useful
for efficient enrichment of Mo(VI) from aqueous solution, while M1
efficiently removes AsO
2
–
from environmental
samples by solid-phase extraction.