A water-soluble and retrievable ruthenium-based probe for colorimetric recognition of Hg(II) and Cys

•A novel retrievable ruthenium-based colorimetric probe was developed for recognition of Hg(II) and Cys.•The probe possesses highly sensitivity and selectivity towards the targets.•The constructed probe displays excellent water-solubility.

A new ruthenium-based complex 1 [(bis(4,4′-dimethylphosphonic-2,2′-bipyridine) dithiocyanato ruthenium (II))] was developed as a colorimetric probe for the detection of Hg(II) and Cys (Cysteine). The obtained compound 1 can give interconversional color changes upon the alternating addition of Hg(II) and Cys in 100% aqueous solution. The specific coordination between NCS groups with Hg(II) can lead to the formation of 1-Hg2 + complex, which can induce a remarkable spectral changes of probe 1. Afterwards the formed 1-Hg2 + complex can act as effective colorimetric sensor for Cys. Owing to the stronger binding affinity of sulfhydryl group to Hg2 +, Cys can extract Hg2 + from 1-Hg2 + complex resulting in the release of 1 and the revival of absorption profile of the probe 1. By introducing the hydrophilic phosphonic acid groups, the proposed probe exhibited excellent water solubility. The limits of detection (LODs) of the assay for Hg2 + and Cys are calculated to be 15 nM and 200 nM, respectively.

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