Imatinib intermediate as a two in one dual channel sensor for the recognition of Cu²⁺ and I⁻ ions in aqueous media and its practical applications.

An imatinib intermediate, 6-methyl-N-[4-(pyridin-3-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl]benzene-1,3-diaminepyridopyrimidotoluidine (PPT-1), was developed for the colorimetric sensing of Cu(2+) ions in aqueous solution. With Cu(2+), the receptor PPT-1 showed a highly selective naked-eye detectable color change from colorless to red over the seventy other tested cations. The colorimetric sensing ability of PPT-1 was successfully utilized in the preparation of test strips and supported silica for the real samples analysis to detect Cu(2+) ions from 100% aqueous environment. Moreover, the iodide-sensing ability of receptor PPT-1 was explored among the ten examined anions.