A novel imidazole derivative: synthesis, characterization and chemosensory ability for ions

Abstract

Imidazoles have been explored over the years as optical chemosensors for their ability to coordinate with analytes, through specific binding sites, especially for ions, provided by the nitrogen heteroatom. Consequently, a novel 2,4,5-triheteroarylimidazole was synthetized bearing indolyl and furyl moieties. The compound was characterized by the usual spectroscopic techniques, and the preliminary chemosensory ability was carried out in acetonitrile and acetonitrile/water (25:75) in the presence of ions with biological, medicinal and environmental relevance. In an aqueous medium, the new compound showed a slight enhancement of fluorescence in the presence of HSO4−. As for cations, an enhancement of the fluorescence was observed upon interaction with Fe2+, Sn2+, Fe3+ and Al3+. On the other hand, a quenching of fluorescence was observed in the presence of Cu2+.