A highly selective fluorescence-based polymer sensor incorporating an (R,R)-salen moiety for Zn(2+) detection

Chemistry. 2010 Nov 15;16(43):12898-903. doi: 10.1002/chem.201001198.

Abstract

A chiral polymer incorporating an (R,R)-salen moiety was synthesized by the polymerization of (R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane with 2,5-dibutoxy-1,4-di(salicyclaldehyde)-1,4-diethynyl-benzene by a nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction. The fluorescence responses of the (R,R)-salen-based polymer toward various metal ions were investigated by fluorescence spectra. Compared with other cations, such as Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Mn(2+), Fe(2+), Fe(3+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Ag(+), Cd(2+), Hg(2+), and Pb(2+), Zn(2+) can lead to a pronounced fluorescence enhancement as high as 7.8-fold together with an obvious blue-shift change of the chiral polymer. More importantly, the fluorescent color of the polymer changed to bright blue instead of weak yellow after addition of Zn(2+), which can be easily detected by the naked eye. The results indicate that this kind of chiral polymer, incorporating an (R,R)-salen moiety as a receptor in the main chain backbone, can exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity for Zn(2+) recognition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ethylenediamines / chemical synthesis*
  • Ethylenediamines / chemistry
  • Fluorescence
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemical synthesis*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polymers / chemical synthesis*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Zinc / analysis*

Substances

  • Ethylenediamines
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Polymers
  • disalicylaldehyde ethylenediamine
  • Zinc