Hydroxy- and Methoxy-Substituted Inorganic Receptor Design: Dual Selectivities for Ag+ and CN− in Aqueous Medium

Abstract

Hydroxy- and methoxy-substituted inorganic receptors [Ru(bpy)2(4-(2-((4-(1H-imidazo-[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2yl)benzyl)amino)ethyl)benzene-1,2-diol)](ClO4)2, Ru1 and [Ru (bpy)2(N-(4-(1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)benzyl)-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl- amine)](ClO4)2, Ru2 were designed and synthesized for the detection of Ag+ and CN− ions in aqueous medium with their dual capability of selectivities. According to photophysical studies, Ru1 and Ru2 have both detected Ag+ cation and CN− anion with increase/decrease of absorbances and emissions of light via photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanisms. Their binding stoichiometries were determined by the Job’s plot of Ru1 and Ru2 with Ag+ and CN− complexations with the ratio of; 1:1 (Ru1:Ag+), 1:1 (Ru1:CN−), 1:2 (Ru2:Ag+), and 1:1 (Ru2:CN−).