A bis-hydrazone derivative of 2,5-furandicarboxaldehyde with perfect hetero-atomic cavity for selective sensing of Hg(II) and its intracellular detection in living HeLa S3 cell

Abstract A new bis-hydrazone derivative of 2,5-furandicarboxaldehyde ( R1 ) was designed with perfect hetero-atomic cavity and synthesized for sensing of heavy metal ion via FRET mechanism. Selective sensing ability of R1 as a ‘ turn on ’ fluorescent chemosensor for Hg 2+ with rapid and very sharp visual colour change was observed. The long wavelength fluorescence emission of R1:Hg 2+ complex was applied for intracellular Hg 2+ detection in living HeLa S3 cells. Single crystal X-ray confirmed the structure and LOD calculation suggested that the sensor could identify very low concentration (3.6 nM) of Hg 2+ . Quantum chemical (DFT) calculation supported the symmetrical three dimensional structural arrangements as well as the chelate complex of the sensor with Hg 2+ .