2,4,5-Triaryl imidazole probes for the selective chromo-fluorogenic detection of Cu(II). Prospective use of the Cu(II) complexes for the optical recognition of biothiols

The sensing behaviour toward metal cations and biothiols of two 2,4,5-triarylimidazole probes (3a and 3b) is tested in acetonitrile and in acetonitrile-water. In acetonitrile the two probes present charge-transfer absorption bands in the 320-350 nm interval. Among all cations tested only Cu(11) is able to induce bathochromic shifts of the absorption band in the two probes, which is reflected in marked colour changes. Colour modulations are ascribed to the formation of 1:1 Cu(II)-probe complexes in which the cation interacts with the imidazole acceptor heterocycle. Besides, the two probes present intense emission bands (at 404 and 437 nm for 3a and 3b respectively) in acetonitrile that are q…