An amide based dipodal Zn2+ complex: Nano-molar detection of HSO4- in a semi-aqueous system

Abstract

A new chromogenic dipodal Zn2+ complex (4) bearing an amide group has been synthesized. The anion binding profile of this sensor was investigated with fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The receptor 4 has high affinity for HSO4- with a binding constant of 3.5 × 104 M-1 and a detection limit of 50 nM. The binding ability was confirmed with spectroscopic methods and density functional theory calculation (DFT).