Visualization of CO32− detection using colorimetric chemosensor by simple molecular motif in aqueous environment and its versatile utilizations

Abstract

A rhodanine 3-acetic acid-based chemoreceptor viz., (Z)-2-(5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidin-3-yl) acetic acid (RV) has been developed in this work. RV flourished the rapid selectivity towards carbonate anion under pure aqueous medium. RV has been architecturally validated by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and LC-MS analysis. It can experience auspicious visible detection of CO32− ion from pale yellow to brownish red in the micro molar detection range (81 µM). The deprotonation process followed ICT pathway vindicates the indispensable sensing mechanism for the sensitive detection of carbonate anion by RV. A virtuous authentication of solution-state experimental results and theoretical approaches (DFT & TD-DFT) suggested more attention towards the recognition pathway. In addition, RV unveiled the reversibility and reusability nature by acetic acid addition. It also assists to be a consistent system toward impersonating XNOR molecular logic gate circuits. Fascinatingly, solid-state on-spot colorimetric detection of CO32− ion by the test strips and silica support method intensifies the pragmatic application of this work.