A new fluorescent chemosensor for Hg in aqueous solution

We prepared an aminothiourea-derived Schiff base (DA) as a fluorescent chemosensor for Hg ions. Addition of 1 equiv of Hg ions to the aqueous solution of DA gave rise to an obvious fluorescence enhancement and the subsequent addition of more Hg induced gradual fluorescence quenching. Other competing ions, including Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ca, Mg, K and Na, did not induce any distinct fluorescence changes, indicating that DA can selectively detect Hg ions in aqueous solution. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Supporting information can be found in the online version of this article.