‘PET’ vs. ‘push–pull’ induced ICT: a remarkable coumarinyl-appended pyrimidine based naked eye colorimetric and fluorimetric sensor for the detection of Hg2+ ions in aqueous media with test trips

Abstract

A novel colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor based on 7-(diethylamino)-3-(pyrimidin-4-yl)-2H-chromen-2-one (PYC) has been designed and synthesized for the detection of Hg²⁺ in the presence of other competing metals in mixed aqueous media. The PYC exhibits naked eye color change from green to red, and the fluorescence color changes from yellowish green to light orange with Hg²⁺. It also shows a red shift in wavelength of about 80 nm in absorption spectra. Test strips based on PYC were fabricated, which could act as convenient and efficient Hg²⁺ test kits.