A novel rosamine based fluorescent sensor for Ag(+) recognition

Rosamine derivative, N-(9-(4-(bis(2-(ethylthio)ethyl)amino)phenyl)-6-(diethylamino)-3H-xanthen-3-ylidene)-N-ethylethanaminium hexafluorophosphate, L, bearing an NS2 group as receptor, was synthesized as a turn on chemosensor for silver ion in ethanol solution. Sensor L exhibited high selectivity toward Ag(+) in comparison to other metal cations (Cd(2+), Cu(2+), Hg(2+), Na(+), Mg(2+), Ni(2+), Pb(2+), Fe(3+), and Zn(2+)). The detection limit for Ag(+) was in 10(-7) level. The binding properties between silver ion and L were further studied by (1)HNMR titration experiments. The chemosensor L can be used as a potential material for silver recognition.