A novel imidazole derivative: synthesis, characterization and chemosensory ability for ions

Imidazoles have been explored over the past years as optical chemosensors due to their ability to coordinate with analytes. Heterocyclic molecules, are capable of providing specific binding sites, especially for ions. Consequently, a novel 2,4,5-triheteroarylimidazole was synthetized bearing indole and furyl moieties. The compound was characterized by the usual techniques, and the preliminary chemosensory ability was carried out in acetonitrile and acetonitrile/water (25:75) in the presence of ions with biological, medicinal, and environmental relevance. In aqueous medium, the new compound showed a slight enhancement of fluorescence in the presence of HSO₄^-. As for cations, it exhibited an enhancement of fluorescence with the addition of Fe²⁺, Sn²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ and a more pronounced quenching of fluorescence in the presence of Cu²⁺.