Fluorescence sensor for sequential detection of zinc and phosphate ions.
A new, highly selective turn on fluorescent chemosensor based on 2 (2' tosylamidophenyl)thiazole (1) for the detection of zinc and phosphate ions in ethanol was synthesized and characterized. Sensor 1 showed a high selectivity for zinc compared to other cations and sequentially detected hydrogen pyrophosphate and hydrogen phosphate. The fluorescence mechanism can be explained by two different mechanisms: (i) the inhibition of excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and (ii) chelation induced enhanced fluorescence by binding with Zn(2+ The sequential detection of phosphate anions was achieved by the quenching and subsequent revival of ESIPT.
Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy