Synthesis, Characterization and Application of a Ferrocenyl Azo-Based Ligand as Ag+- Detector in an Aqueous System

Abstract

Over the years, humans and the environment have been exposed to various toxic ionic species that emanated, majorly, from anthropogenic sources. In this study, a new ferrocenyl-azo based chemosensor, ferrocenyl 1-(2-phenylazo)-2-naphtholate (FPN) for the determination of silver ions was developed via catalytic reduction and diazotization routes. The structural features were confirmed by spectroscopic methods involving proton NMR, GC/MS and FTIR. Having exposed the product to different metal solutions, Ag+ was distinctively recognized, revealing FPN as an effective and sensitive chemosensor. The binding behavior of FPN towards the sensitive silver ion was investigated using Job’s plot, and a metal:ligand ratio of 1:1 was revealed. The study showed a bathochromic shift and a new peak band was observed at 275 nm in the absorption spectra of FPN. The absorption experiments demonstrate that FPN as a rapid and reliable sensor capable of determining silver and ferric ions. Therefore, ferrocenyl 1-(2-phenylazo)-2-naphtholate ligand is highly recommended as an alternative route in detecting silver ions in both organic and aqueous media.