Highly sensitive and selective difunctional ruthenium(II) complex-based chemosensor for dihydrogen phosphate anion and ferrous cation.

The anion-interaction properties of a Ru(II) complex of [Ru(bpy)2(Htppip)](ClO4)2·H2O·DMF (RuL) {bpy =2,2'-bipyridine and Htppip =2-(4-(2,6-di(pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline} were thoroughly investigated in CH3CN and CH3CN/H2O (50:1, v/v) solutions by UV-visible absorption, emission, and (1)H NMR spectra. These analyses revealed that RuL acts as an efficient "turn on" emission sensor for H2PO4(-), and a "turn off" sensor for F(-) and OAc(-); in addition, RuL exhibited slightly disturbed emission spectra in the presence of the other anions studied (Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), NO3(-), and ClO4(-)). The cation-sensing properties of RuL were also studied in both neat CH3CN and aqueous 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid buffer (pH = 7.2)/CH3CN (71/1, v/v) solutions. RuL was found to exhibit a colorimetric sensing ability that was highly selective for Fe(2+), as evidenced by an obvious color change from pale yellow to light red-purple to the naked eye over the other cations studied (Na(+), Mg(2+), Ba(2+), Mn(2+), Fe(3+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+), Hg(2+), and Ag(+)). To obtain insights into the possible binding modes and the sensing mechanisms, (1)H NMR spectral analysis, luminescence lifetime measurements, and density functional theoretical calculations were also performed.