A Chromo- and Fluoroionophoric Thiaoxaaza-Macrocycle Functionalized with Nitrobenzofurazan Exhibiting Mercury(II) Selectivity

A chromo/fluorogenic $NO_2S_2$-macrocycle L functionalized with nitrobenzofurazan unit as a dual-signaling probe was synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. In a cation-induced color change experiment, L exhibited excellent $Hg^{2+}$ ion selectivity by showing the color change from orange-red to yellow. However, this hypochromic shift by $Hg^{2+}$ was observed for the weaker coordinating anion system such as ${NO_3}^-$ and ${ClO_4}^-$ ions. The observed anion effect is due to the strong coordination of anions inhibits the bond formation between $Hg^{2+}$ and the macrocyclic tert-N atom, which is sensitive to induce the color change. In the fluorometric experiment, L showed chelate-enhanced fluorescence change effect only with $Hg^{2+}$ ion, together with a change from yellow to green emission. The sensing ability for $Hg^{2+}$ with the proposed chemosensor L is due to the stable complexation with 1:1 stoichiometry (metal-to-ligand).