Copper complex based on 2-(phenylimino-methyl)-phenol as a high selective fluoresencent probe for hydrogen sulfide

A Copper(II) complex of condensation production was synthesized and its crystal was also obtained by the reaction of 2-(phenylimino-methyl)-phenol with Cu(CH 3 COO) 2 ·H 2 O. The crystal and molecular structure of the complex was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR, and HRMS. The Cu(II) ion was four coordinated with two phenolate oxygen and two imine nitrogen atoms in a square-planar geometry. It should be emphasized that the complex demonstrated high selectivity and sensitivity for hydrogen sulfide over other anions (AcO − , H 2 PO 4 − , F − , Cl − , Br − and I − ) followed by the release of copper ion to give a remarkable increase of fluorescence intensity in various organic-aqueous solutions. The synthesized copper complex could be used as a fluoresencent probe for the detection of HS − in the sample of environment, pharmacy, and etc.