Synthesis and fluorescence properties of phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole derivative for Ag+ in aqueous media

Abstract A novel fluorescent chemosensor containing 1 H -phenanthro[9,10- d ]imidazole moieties linked to double ethylenediamino units was synthesized. It exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity in aqueous media for Ag + with obvious change in color and 12.55-fold fluorescence quenching. The detection limit was calculated as 1.01 × 10 −7  M by a fluorescence titration experiment. The 1:1 binding stoichiometry of L –Ag + complex was analyzed by Job’s plot and further confirmed by ESI-MS. Furthermore, the recognition pattern was suggested through the FTIR and 1 H NMR spectroscopy.