A highly selective fluorescence chemosensor for Pb(II) in neutral buffer aqueous solution

Abstract A 3,4-dimethylthieno[2,3-b]thiophene-based fluorogenic probe bearing benzo[d]-thiazole-2-thio unit (sodium 3,4-bis ((benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylthio)methyl) thieno [2, 3-b]thio-phene-2, 5-dicarboxylate) was developed as a novel fluorescent chemosensor with high selectivity towards Pb(II) over other cations tested. The new probe exhibited good water solubility and only sensed Pb(II) among metal ions examined in neutral 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid buffer solution. The selectivity and sensitivity of fluorogenic probe to Pb(II) were discussed on the basis of experimental results. Keywords: fluorescence chemosensorneutral aqueous solutionPb(II)thieno[2,3-b]thiophenebenzo[d]thiazole-2-thio unit Acknowledgements We thank the open project programme of Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Chemistry and Applications of Ministry of Education China (No. 09HJYH04) and The Fourth Xiangtan University Undergraduates Innovating Experimentation Project (2011) for their financial support.