Synfacts 2006(3): 0227-0227  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-931933
Synthesis of Materials and Unnatural Products
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Selective and Efficient Detection of Hg2+ Ions in Aqueous Media

Contributor(s): Timothy M. Swager, Trisha L. Andrew
Y.-K. Yang, K.-J. Yook, J. Tae*
Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
21 February 2006 (online)

Significance

This rhodamine derivative is capable of selectively detecting and quantifying ppb levels of Hg2+ ions in aqueous solutions. The presence of Hg2+ ions causes a significant increase in the emission intensity of a solution of 1 (H2O-MeOH, 80:20) and the development of a prominent fuchsia color from a previously colorless solution of 1 by promoting a spirolactam ring opening and subsequent cyclization reaction to form 2.