Highly Selective and Sensitive Colorimetric and Fluorimetric Sensor for Cu²

A newly designed fluorescent and colorimetric probe was synthesized and selective detection of cu²⁺ was successful in aqueous medium. The design strategy exhibited strongly fluorescent when binding with cu²⁺ based on the change in structure between spirocyclic to a non-cyclic form of rhodamine based dye. The UV visible spectra of probe (6GS2) exhibited three absorption peaks at 229, 309 and 530 nm respectively. The emission spectra of fluorescent probe exhibited wavelength at 550 nm. The peak intensity increases during the addition of copper ion to probe through n-π transition. The probe characterized by different techniques like NMR, absorption, emission, mass and test strips methods. Graphical Abstract .