Fluorescence detection by thiourea based probe of physiologically important sodium ion

A thiourea base receptor 1 was synthesized and characterized with 1H NMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectroscopy. The receptor 1 has shown judicious fluorescence enhancement in the intensity (at 385 nm) on binding with the sodium cation compared to other surveyed metal ions. The rationale behind the design of sensor lies in the fact that the sensor has sodium-binding recognition site, coupled with a fluorophore having the correct spectral and electron-accepting properties. Thus, the thiourea compound is a promising system for the development of new fluorescent probes for the detection of Na+ cation.