Colorimetric sensing of Cu(ii) by 2-methyl-3-[(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-amino]-1,4-naphthoquinone: Cu(ii) induced deprotonation of NH responsible for color changes.

1,4-Naphthoquinone based chemosensors and detect only the presence of Cu(2+) ions among other transition metal ions by changing color from orange to dark blue. Chemosensors and function as tridentate ligands, which bind Cu(2+) ions through three functional groups: an amine nitrogen, a pyridine nitrogen and a quinone oxygen. On addition of Cu(2+), both and exhibit a 168 nm red shift in absorption wavelength (pH 7.0). The effect on pH by the formation of these Cu(2+) complexes was determined by UV-vis spectroscopic pH titration. In the pH range of 6-7.5, a maximum was observed at 634 nm and exhibited the formation of deprotonated -Cu(2+) and -Cu(2+) complexes. A reversible color change (orange-blue-orange) was observed when chemosensor was mixed with Cu(2+) in CH(3)CN. This represents a reversible process of deprotonation and re-protonation of the -Cu(2+) complexes and also demonstrates the short half-life of thr deprotonated -Cu(2+) complexes in CH(3)CN.