A highly selective quinaldine-indole based spiropyran with intramolecular H-bonding for visual detection of Cu(II) ions

A highly sensitive and selective quinaldine-indole based spiropyran (QSP) based colorimetric chemosensor was synthesized. QSP intramolecular hydrogen bonding stabilization energies were predicted using theoretical (B3LYP/def2-TZVP) methods. The sensitivity and selectivity of QSP for the different metal ions was investigated by experimental (UV-visible) and it offers visual detection of Cu2+ ions.