Selective chromogenic and fluorogenic signalling of Hg2+ ions using a fluorescein-coumarin conjugate

A novel, Hg2+-selective chemosensor was prepared via Mannich reaction of dichlorofluorescein with piperazinyl-coumarin moiety. The dichlorofluorescein–coumarin derivative exhibited well-defined Hg2+-selective chromogenic behavior, indicated by a green to pink colour change in solution, as well as fluorogenic signalling. Significant changes in fluorescence of the dichlorofluorescein subunit were analyzed in reference to the rather constant coumarin emission as an internal standard yielding Hg2+ selectivity. The Hg2+ selectivity of the chemosensor was not appreciably affected by the presence of common coexisting alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metal ions. The detection limit of the dichlorofluorescein–coumarin conjugate for the determination of Hg2+ ions was 4.3 × 10−6 mol L−1 and the conjugate dye could be used as a chemosensor for the analysis of Hg2+ ions in aqueous environments.