Interaction between 1-[p-(dimethylamino) benzoyl]-4′-phenyl-semicarbazide and Cu2+

A new compound, 1-[p-(dimethylamino)benzoyl]-4′-phenyl-semicarbazide (1) was synthesized and showed highly selective response to Cu2+ over other metal ions such as Pb2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, Ca2+, Ag+, Na+, K+, and Li+. The control compound, 1-[p-(dimethylamino)benzoyl]-4-phenyl-thiosemicarbazide (2), showed different fluorescence spectral response to Cu2+. A 1:1 complex between Cu2+ and 1 was formed while 1:1 and 1:2 complexes between Cu2+ and 2 were formed. The binding model between the receptor (1 or 2) and Cu2+ was supported by IR spectra, mass spectra, and computation model. 1 possessed higher selectivity towards Cu2+ compared with 2 owing to the difference of complexation ability between urea and thiourea groups.