A colorimetric chemosensor for the sequential detection of copper(II) and cysteine

• A simple and easy-to-make colorimetric sensor was synthesized.
• This sensor could sequentially detect Cu2+ and cysteine through naked-eye in aqueous solution.
• The sensing mechanism for Cu2+ was supported by theoretical calculations.

A simple and easy-to-make colorimetric chemosensor 1 for the sequential detection of Cu2+ and cysteine was developed by combination of hydroxynaphthalene-2-carbaldehyde and diaminomaleonitrile. This sensor 1 exhibited an obvious color change from pale yellow to orange in the presence of Cu2+ in aqueous solution. Also, the resulting 1-Cu2+ complex sensed cysteine through naked-eye, showing recovery from 1-Cu2+ to 1, over other sulfur-containing amino acid and peptide. Moreover, the sensing ability of 1 for Cu2+ was supported by theoretical calculations.

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