Abstract
[Display omitted]
•New biscarbothioamide based stilbene derivatives (TUS) was synthesized and characterized.•TUS showing high selectivity for Hg2+ at pH 5 by color change and turning on the fluorescence.•The binding mechanism of (TUS) with Hg2+ was investigated which follow desulfurization mechanism.•Hg2+ showing high sensitivity towards Hg2+ and LOD was calculated 0.15 µM.•TUS probe could be used as a promising tool to detect intracellular Hg2+ by confocal microscope.
A new symmetrical biscarbothioamide based stilbene 2,2′-(4,4′-(ethene-1,2-diyl)bis(benzoyl))bis(N-phenylhydrazine-1-carbothioamide) (TUS) as turn on fluorescent probe and colorimetric chemosensor for detection of mercury cation was synthesized and characterized by NMR spectra, Mass spectra, IR spectra, and elemental analyses. The selectivity towards various metal cations was investigated at pH 5, TUS exhibited good colorimetric selectivity to Hg2+ ion that could be directly observed by naked-eye color change from colorless to faint yellow with short response time. Moreover, the stoichiometric ratio and the interaction of TUS fluorescent probe with Hg2+ was determined to be 1:2 complex formation, which confirmed by Job's plot, mass spectra and 1H NMR titration. The detection limit of TUS towards Hg2+ was calculated to be 0.15 µM. The effect of the pH change in absorption and emission spectra with the absence and presence of Hg2+ cations were studied. The TUS was used for bio-imaging of HepG-2 cells and intracellular detection of Hg2+ by confocal microscope.