A Luminescent Probe for Ratiometric Optical Detection of HgII and Turn-On Fluorescent Sensing of CuII.

Luminescent detection of heavy metals continues to be of growing importance considering their increasing inseparable roles in modern day lifestyle. To this end, we report a simple yet interesting thiourea derivative that results in detection of CuII in a turn-on fashion via a chemodosimetric redox reaction leading to oxidative cyclization of the chemosensor molecule. Elaborate studies with regard to the sensing process have been performed along with the proposal of a plausible cyclization mechanism of the molecule. Furthermore, the probe optically detects HgII , yet another heavy metal of prime importance, discernable even to the naked eye. The occurrence of a coordination complex has been proved by UV/Visible spectroscopic experiments as well as ESI-mass spectrometry.