Colorimetric and fluorimetric response of Schiff base molecules towards fluoride anion, solution test kit fabrication, logical interpretations and DFT-D3 study

• Published in: Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP Vol. 17; no. 31; pp. 20288 - 20295
• Main Authors: Ghosh, Pritam, Roy, Biswajit Gopal, Jana, Saibal, Mukhopadhyay, Subhra Kanti, Banerjee, Priyabrata
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 21.08.2015
• Subjects: Anions; Colorimetry; Electrical Equipment and Supplies; Fluorescence; Fluorides - analysis; Fluorides - chemistry; Fluorometry; Hydrazines - chemistry; Logic; Models, Molecular; Molecular Conformation; Pollen; Quantum Theory; Receptors; Schiff bases; Schiff Bases - chemistry; Solutions; Solvents
• ISSN: 1463-9076; 1463-9084
• DOI: 10.1039/c5cp02525g

Two newly synthesized Schiff base molecules are herein reported as anion sensors. -NO2 substituted receptor (P1) is comparatively more acidic and can sense F(-), OAc(-) and H2PO4(-), whereas -CN substituted receptor (P2) is less acidic and is selective for F(-) only. Reversible UV-Vis response for both receptors with F(-) can mimic multiple logic gate functions, and several complex electronic circuits based on XNOR, XOR, OR, AND, NOT and NOR logic operations with 'Write-Read-Erase-Read' options have been executed. Interesting 'turn on and off' fluorescence responses were noticed for the receptors with F(-). Intracellular F(-) detection as a diagnosis of non-skeletal fluorosis was successful using a fluorescence microscope with Candida albicans (prokaryotic cell, a diploid fungus) and pollen grains of Tecoma stans (eukaryotic cell) incubated in 10(-6) M fluoride-contaminated hand-pump water collected from Bankura, West Bengal, India. Furthermore, a solution test kit was fabricated for easy and selective detection of F(-) in an aqueous solvent.