(Oligo)thienyl-imidazo-benzocrown ether derivatives: Synthesis, photophysical studies and evaluation of their chemosensory properties

A series of novel (oligo)thienyl-imidazo-benzocrown ethers were synthesised through a simple method and evaluated as fluorimetric chemosensors for transition metal cations. Interaction with Ni2+, Pd2+, and Hg2+ in ACN/DMSO solution (99:1) was studied by absorption and emission spectroscopy. Chemoselectivity studies in the presence of Na+ were also carried out and a fluorescence enhancement upon chelation (CHEF) effect was observed following Hg2+ complexation. Considering that most systems using fluorescence spectroscopy for detecting Hg2+ are based on the complexation enhancement of the fluorescence quenching (CHEQ) effect, the present work represents one of the few examples for sensing of Hg2+ based on a CHEF effect.