Schiff base functionalized 1,2,3-triazole derivative for Fe(III) ion recognition, as N,O,O-Fe-O,O,N sandwich complex: DFT analysis

Abstract

The present research aims to synthesize Schiff base tethered 1,2,3-triazole derivative using Cu(I) catalyzed click reaction as a highly sensitive and selective optical chemosensor for the recognition of ferric ions. The synthesized probe was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), NMR (1H and 13C), mass spectrometry, CHN analysis, and Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The UV–vis spectroscopy was employed in eco-friendly EtOH:H2O (9:1 v/v) solvent media to investigate the optical properties of the developed chemosensor SBT, the association constant and limit of detection of Fe3+ was determined to be 2.6 × 104 M- 1 and 1.3 × 10-7 M establishing the designed SBT as a potent probe for analytical and practical applications. Additionally, the time-dependent study and pH sensitivity of the developed probe SBT and metal–ligand complex were also studied via UV–visible spectroscopy. Besides, FTIR spectra and TGA curve of the synthesized (SBT-metal complex) confirmed the binding of the metal–ligand complex. Furthermore, the real sample application for detection of Fe3+ in spinach (food rich in Iron) was analysed, and the SBT-based sensing system yielded a recovery rate of greater than 99.07%. The synthesized probe was also explored for its computational-based DFT studies via Gaussian 09 programs using the DFT method with (B3LYP)/-311G (d,p) basis set of hybrid density functional theory.