A single molecular light-up sensor for quantification of Hg2+ and Ag+ in aqueous medium: high selectivity toward Hg2+ over Ag+ in a mixture.

A bis-heteroleptic Ru(II) complex (1) is presented that acts as a single molecular dual analyte sensor and quantifies Hg(2+) and Ag(+) by luminescence at two different wavelengths. The sensor has stronger binding to Hg(2+) than to its likely competitor Ag(+) allowing quantification of Hg(2+) in a sample with Ag(+) without a masking agent. 1 also selectively senses Ag(+) in the absence of Hg(2+) by enhancing the PL intensity at a different wavelength.