New fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors based on the rhodamine and boronic acid groups for the detection of Hg2+

Novel rhodamine B (RB) derivatives bearing mono and bis-boronic acid groups were investigated as Hg2+ selective fluorescent and colorimetric sensors. These derivatives are first examples of reversible fluorescent chemosensors for Hg2+ which utilized boronic acid groups as binding sites. Two new RB-boronic acid derivatives displayed selective ‘Off–On’-type fluorescent enhancements and distinct color changes with Hg2+. Selective fluorescent enhancement of two rhodamine derivatives was attributed to ring opening from the spirolactam (nonfluorescent) to ring-opened amide (fluorescent).