A novel spectrofluorometric method for the determination of methiocarb using an amphiphilic p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene.

The characteristics of host-guest complexation between tetrabutyl ether derivatives of p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene (SC4Bu) and methiocarb [3,5-dimethyl-4-(methylthio) phenyl methylcarbamate] were investigated by fluorescence spectrometry. Upon addition of methiocarb, the fluorescence intensity of SC4Bu was quenched regularly and a slight red shift was observed for the maximum emission peak. These results indicated that the SC4Bu-methiocarb complex was formed a 1:1 mole ratio. An association constant of 1.67×10(4) L mol(-1) was calculated by applying a deduced equation. The interaction mechanism of the inclusion complex was discussed. Based on the results, a novel spectrofluorimetric method was described for the determination of methiocarb with a detection limit at 0.05 μg mL(-1). This method is very simple and shows high sensitivity and selectivity. Moreover, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of methiocarb in water samples.