Benzimidazole-based imine-linked copper complexes in food safety: selective detection of cyproheptadine and thiabendazole

Abstract

Benzimidazole-based imine-linked copper complexes L1. Cu2+−L3. Cu2+ (assigned as C1−C3) have been synthesized and characterized with various spectroscopic techniques. The structure of complex C1 was established with X-ray crystallography, which revealed it to be a dinuclear complex that crystallized in a triclinic crystal system. Currently, with the increasing demand of consumption of pharmaceutical products by living beings their subsequent disposal to the environment has increased progressively. These harmful pharmaceutical ingredients enter into water bodies, which is not only affecting the ecological environment but also affecting the living system as they accumulate in the food chain causing adverse effects. Therefore, detection of such harmful agents in the environment has turned out to be an important parameter that needs much attention. Here, we utilized the copper complex (C1) for the selective detection of cyproheptadine and thiabendazole drug molecules. The modulations in the photophysical properties of the complex were employed as a parameter which was studied extensively for determination of targeted drugs. The investigation confirmed that complex C1 was found to sense cyproheptadine and thiabendazole in the nanomolar range. Real sample analysis was also carried out and revealed that the complex under investigation is a good sensor system for detection of the targeted drugs.