Syntheses and pH sensing applications of imine-coupled phenol and polyphenol species derived from 2-amino-4-nitrophenol.

Developing of new generation optical polymeric pH sensors has increasing importance due to their stable structures. Available polymeric sensors for different pH ranges are already needed. In the present study new kinds of monomeric and polymeric absorption pH sensors (HBANP and PHBANP) derived from 2-amino-4-nitrophenol were prepared. The novel sensors were investigated in various pH values using spectrophotometric, spectrofluorometric, and electrochemical techniques. The sensors showed sigmoidal correlations vs. pH range in optical measurements. These correlations were improved as mathematical formula to obtain the solution pH. HBANP and PHBANP differed from each other by response fields. HBANP had a sharp absorption increase between the pH of 6.5→7.5 while PHBANP spectrophotometrically responded at lower pHs. HBANP was colorless in acidic pHs, yellow-colored in neutral media and red-colored in alkaline pHs. With its colorimetric responses in various pHs HBANP can be used to develop color-tunable pH sensors. Electrochemical oxidation peak potentials and currents also particularly changed in various pHs.