A novel acetate selective chromogenic chemosensor based on phenanthroline

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Sensing Technology

Background:

• Development of selective and sensitive chemosensors is crucial for detecting specific anions in various matrices.
• 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives offer a versatile scaffold for designing chemosensors due to their coordination properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel colorimetric anion-chemosensor based on 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarbonyl-p-nitro-phenylhydrazine.
• To evaluate the selectivity and sensitivity of the synthesized chemosensor towards various anions.
• To investigate the interaction mechanism between the chemosensor and the target anion.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of the 1,10-phenanthroline-based colorimetric chemosensor.
• UV-vis spectral titrations to study binding affinities with different anions.
• Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ((1)H NMR) spectroscopy to elucidate the interaction mechanism with acetate.

Main Results:

• The synthesized chemosensor exhibited high selectivity for acetate ions (AcO(-)) over other tested anions.
• Upon binding with acetate, a distinct color change from yellow to red was observed, detectable by the naked eye.
• UV-vis titration and (1)H NMR studies confirmed the binding interaction between the chemosensor and acetate.

Conclusions:

• A novel, visually detectable colorimetric chemosensor for acetate has been successfully developed.
• The chemosensor demonstrates excellent selectivity and a clear visual response, making it suitable for practical applications.
• The study provides insights into the molecular interactions governing anion sensing using phenanthroline-based systems.