Anion sensing properties of new colorimetric chemosensors based on thiourea and urea moieties

Abstract

A new colorimetric sensors containing thiourea (1-(4-nitrophenyl)-3- quinolin-6-ylthiourea; 1) and urea(1-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-quinolin-6-ylurea; 2) moieties for fluoride were designed and synthesized. These simple receptors were characterized their stoichiometry, and investigates the mechanism of their selectivity as anion receptors. The addition of tetrabutylammonium fluoride salts to the solution of receptors caused a dramatically and clearly observable color changes from colorless to yellow. To examine their application as anion receptors by UV-vis and 1H NMR spectroscopy results revealed their higher selectivity for fluoride ion than other anions. The receptors and fluoride ion formed a 1:1 stoichiometry complex through strong hydrogen bonding interactions in the first step, followed by a process of deprotonation in presence of an excess of F- in DMSO solvent.