A bifunctional colorimetric fluorescent probe for Hg2+ and Cu2+ based on a carbazole–pyrimidine conjugate: chromogenic and fluorogenic recognition on TLC, silica-gel and filter paper

Abstract

A bifunctional fluorescent probe based on a carbazole–pyrimidine conjugate for Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ detection was designed and synthesized. Probe 3 exhibits red shifts in its absorption and fluorescence spectra with significant visual color changes in the presence of these ions. The detection limits of probe 3 for these metal ions were in the nanomolar range. The probe could also be useful as a solid optical sensor for Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺.