A new fluorescent chemosensor detecting Co2+ and K+ in DMF buffered solution.

A new fluorescent chemosensor 2-(2-thiophene)imidazo [4,5,f]-1,10-phenanthroline (L) was prepared and characterized. By adding univalent or divalent metal ions such as Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ba(2+), Mn(2+), Fe(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Ag(+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+) and Hg(2+) ions into the solution of L in DMF under buffered conditions with the working pH ranging from 7.0 to 8.0, we found that L could be used to detect K(+) ratiometricly and it could also be applied to sense Co(2+) with the phenomenon of fluorescence quenching of L. While the response behavior of L was not discernibly affected by other examined metal ions.