Colorimetric and fluorometric sensing of the Lewis acidity of a metal ion by metal-ion complexation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(7H)-ones

Metal-ion complexation of 7-benzylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(7H)-one derivative (2) with Li+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Sc3+, and La3+ in acetonitrile resulted in successive modulations of its UV/vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic properties. This result indicates that 2 can be used as a colorimetric and fluorometric sensor of the Lewis acidity of a metal ion in aprotic solutions. The hypothesis that the metal-ion complex has a O10(imidazopyrazinone)–metal ion bond was supported by X-ray crystallographic analysis and quantum chemical calculations for a Li+ complex of 7-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3(7H)-one derivative (1).