Thiophene aldehyde-diamino uracil Schiff base: A novel fluorescent probe for detection and quantification of cupric, silver and ferric ions.

A new Schiff base from the condensation of 5,6-diamino-1,3-dimethyluracil with 5-methylthiophene-2-carboxaldehyde was synthesized. The compound was characterized by spectral data (UV-Vis, IR, (1)H NMR, fluorescence, MS). Ethanolic solutions of the Schiff base exhibit a strong fluorescence emission at 385 nm (λex=341 nm), and have been employed as a "turn-off" fluorescent probe for selective detection of Ag(+), Cu(2+) and Fe(3+) ions in presence of other cations such as Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) ions abundant in natural water. The interaction between the tested compound and copper, silver or iron ions is associated with a significant fluorescence decrease, showing detection limits of 2.1-14.2 ppb. Under optimal conditions, the developed sensor was successfully employed to determine Ag(+), Cu(2+) and Fe(3+) ions in real samples and proved to be selective and sensitive.