Hydrazinylpyridine based highly selective optical sensor for aqueous source of carbonate ions: Electrochemical and DFT studies

Abstract

A series of new receptors PDZ1 3 based on 2-(arylidenehydrazinyl)pyridines have been designed and synthesized for the detection of biologically and environmentally important ions. The colorimetric detection of CO32 ? using neutral organic receptor PDZ-1 has been achieved with characteristic visual colour change from yellow to green accompanied by a large redshift of 215 nm in absorption maxima. UV Vis spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetric studies reveal the stoichiometry of binding and electrochemistry of host-guest complex formation. The binding constant was found to be 0.77 104 M? 2. In addition, electrochemical studies provide an insight into the stability of the complex. DFT studies performed on the PDZ-1 and PDZ-1 ? CO32 ? complex reveal the binding mechanism involved in the anion detection process. PDZ-1 is highly selective for carbonate and does not show any colorimetric response towards any other anions or cations, while PDZ-2 and PDZ-3 remain inactive in the ion detection process. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of PDZ-1 for carbonate was found to be 0.11 mM and 0.36 mM respectively. Considerable binding constant and limit of detection make PDZ-1 to be used as a real time sensor for the detection of carbonate in environmental and biological samples. 2017 Elsevier B.V.