Colorimetric recognition of water-polluting inorganic arsenic anions using near-infrared chemosensors in organic and semi-aqueous medium

Abstract

Highly sensitive and selective chemosensors N2R1–N2R3 for detecting water-polluting inorganic arsenic anions, arsenite, and arsenate were synthesized and characterized. The selectivity of anions was studied in the pure organic media as well as the organo-aqueous media. Receptors N2R1 and N2R3 exhibited selectivity toward arsenite ion over arsenate ion in the acetonitrile media with a Limit of Detection (LOD) of 0.119 ppm and 0.323 ppm, respectively. In 30% aq. DMSO, receptors N2R1–N2R3 displayed selectivity toward arsenite and arsenate with a better LOD of 0.044 ppm. The anion binding to the receptor achieved a spectral absorption shift toward the near-infrared region in both organic and aqueous media, making the receptors better colorimetric sensors. The cyclic voltammetric investigations, 1H–NMR titration, UV–Vis titration, and DFT experiments provided strong evidence for the initial H-bonding upon interaction with the anions and the subsequent deprotonation pathway for the detection of inorganic arsenic anions. © 2023, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.