Fluorescence sensing of Ag+ ions by desulfurization of an acetylthiourea derivative of 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole

Abstract

A novel Ag+-selective reaction-based probe based on an acetylthiourea derivative of 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole dye was investigated. The designed probe showed pronounced off-on type fluorescence signaling behavior towards Ag+ ions via Ag+-induced desulfurization of acetylthiourea to acetylurea. The signaling was superior to the analogous thioamide-to-amide conversion in terms of both speed and signaling contrast. Interference from thiophilic Hg2+ ions was effectively suppressed using the chelating agent EDTA as a masking agent. The practical application of the system to the detection of Ag+ in simulated wastewater with a detection limit of 0.76 mu M using a smartphone as an easy-to-use data capturing and processing device was successfully demonstrated. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.