A selective fluorescence probe for copper(II) ion in aqueous solution based on 4-(1,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)anilinyl acetates

A novel fluorescent probe potassium 4-(1,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)anilinyl acetate (PPIA) was designed and synthesized. It exhibited very strong sensitive, selective, and irreversible for Cu2+ over other commonly coexistent metal ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Cu+, Hg2+, Zn2+, Ba2+, Ag+, and Cd2+) in aqueous environment (pH 7.4). Moreover, according to the Job plot, 2:1 stoichiometry between PPIA and Cu2+ was deduced in aqueous media. A B3LYP/6-31 G(d) basis set was employed for optimization of PPIA and PPIA·Cu2+ complex.