Highly selective acetate optical sensing of a ruthenium(II) complex carrying imidazole and indole groups

The effects of addition of F−, Cl−, Br−, I−, NO3−, H2PO4−, and OAc− on the UV–vis and emission spectra of Ru(II) complex [Ru(bpy)2(H2iip)](ClO4)2 {bpy = 2,2′-bipyridyl, H2iip = 2-indole-3-yl-imidazole[4,5-f][1,10]-phenanthroline} in dimethyl sulfone were studied. The Ru(II) complex was evidenced to be a highly selective optical sensor for OAc−. Addition of OAc− elicited a distinct change in color from yellow to light orange which can be detected by naked-eye, and an almost vanished emission of the Ru(II) complex at a much lower concentration of OAc− than those of the other anions.

Graphical abstractA Ru(II) complex carrying imidazole and indole groups acts as a highly selective optical OAc− sensor over anions of F−, Cl−, Br−, I−, NO3−, H2PO4−, featuring with an almost fully quenching of its luminescence, and a distinct change in color from yellow to light orange detectable by the naked-eye.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide