Rhodol-derived Colorimetric and Fluorescent Probe with the Receptor of Carbonothioate for the Specific Detection of Mercury Ions.

Developing some methods that can simply and effectively detect mercury ions (Hg) in the environment and biological systems are very important due to the problems of high toxicity and biological accumulation. Herein, we report a simple rhodol-derived colorimetric and fluorescent probe rhodol-Hg with a recognition receptor of carbonothioate for the specific determination of Hg. The color of probe rhodol-Hg solution changed remarkably from colorless to pink in the presence of Hg, thus rhodol-Hg could act as a "naked-eye" probe for Hg. Additionally, this probe exhibited high selectivity and ultrasensitivity in aqueous solution with the limit of detection (LOD) of 1.4 nM toward Hg, and the linear range was 0 - 0.8 μM determined by turn-on fluorescence spectrometry. Importantly, this probe has been successfully used for the detection of Hg in environmental waters and living cells.