Selective, pH sensitive, "turn on" fluorescence sensing of carbonate ions by a benzimidazole

Anions play crucial roles in the sustenance of life on earth in many ways. Selective detection of specific anions is important in developing new diagnostic tools and therapeutics. A pH-sensitive & selective benzimidazole-based fluorescent sensor has been developed for rapid detection of carbonate ions which can detect carbonate ions in low nanomolar concentrations. NMR based experiments indicate direct interaction of benzimidazole imino protons with the carbonate ions leading to 1:1 ligand carbonate ion complexation events. This is one of the first reports of benzimidazole sensing carbonate ions with high selectivity which may have implications in disease prevention and toxicity assessment.