Color responses of novel receptors for AcO− and a test paper for AcO− in pure aqueous solution

An efficient AcO− sensor L which contains 1,10-phenanthroline-based and nitrophenylhydrazine-based groups, and its water-soluble Ru(II) complex were synthesized, characterized and studied in this Letter. Via UV–vis experiments and 1H NMR titration in DMSO solution, it was found that there were potential hydrogen bonds between the NCH and AcO− after the deprotanation of two –NH during the reaction of L or its Ru complex with anions. Furthermore, an easy-to-prepare test paper was developed to detect AcO− at 10 mg/L in pure aqueous solution.