Anthroneamine based chromofluorogenic probes for Hg2+ detection in aqueous solution

Anthroneamine derivatives 1–3 (H2O:DMSO; 9:1, HEPES buffer, pH 7.0 ± 0.1) undergo highly selective fluorescence quenching with Hg2+. The observed linear fluorescence intensity change allows the quantitative detection of Hg2+ between 200 nM/40 ppb—12 μM/2.4 ppm even in the presence of interfering metal ions viz. Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Cr3+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Ag+, Cd2+, Pb2+. Probes 1–3 and their Hg2+ complexes also show the broad pH resistance for their practical applicability.