A diamide-diamine based Cu2+ chromogenic sensor for highly selective visual and spectrophotometric detection

A diamide-diamine based sensor possessing anthracene-9,10-dione as a chromogenic moiety has been synthesized, which demonstrates a highly selective colour change from red to blue with Cu2+ for visual detection of Cu2+ (5-50 μM). The selective deprotonation of an aryl amine NH by Cu2+ is responsible for a bathochromic shift and significant colour change.