Multi-signaling thiocarbohydrazide based colorimetric sensors for the selective recognition of heavy metal ions in an aqueous medium

Abstract

A series of colorimetric chemosensors R1–R6 have been developed from thiocarbohydrazide derivatives, for the selective detection of heavy metal ions. The structures of the receptors R1–R6 were well characterized by standard spectroscopic techniques like FT-IR, 1H NMR, and ESI-MS. The solid structure of receptor R1 and R2 were derived by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD). The cation reorganization abilities of receptors R1–R6 were studied by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The receptors R1, R3 and R4 acts as a tremendous sensitive probe for heavy metal ions (Hg2 +, Cd2 + and Pb2 +) with the ?M detection (R1 for Hg2 +, 2.72, R3 for Cd2 +, 3.22, R4 for Hg2 +, Cd2 + & Pb2 +, 0.70, 0.20 & 0.30 ?M) and the receptors R2, R5 & R6 are sensitive towards Cu2 + ions with the ?M detection (3.34, 0.90 & 1.20 ?M) in an aqueous medium among all other tested cations. The receptor R4 shows a multi-color response towards Hg2 +, Cu2 +, Cd2 + and Pb2 + ions. The recognition mechanism, stoichiometric binding ratio and detection limit (DL) have been examined by UV–Visible spectroscopic titration experiments and Benesi-Hildebrand (B-H) plot, receptor R1–R6 sowed 1:1 binding ratio with good binding constant range of 103 to 105 M? 1 with Hg2 +, Cu2 +, Cd2 + and Pb2 + ions metal ions. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.