On the basis of IR, 1H, and mass spectroscopic techniques the purity of sensor 4 has been determined. 1H-NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz, ppm, δ): 2.39 (s, 3H, CH3), 2.29 (s, 3H, CH3), 3.15 (s, 3H, CH3), 6.980 (s, 1H, Ar-H), 7.82–7.83 (m, 2H, Ar-H), 7.30–7.51 (m, 5H, Ar-H), 6.72 (m, 2H, Ar-H), 9.741 (s, 1H, -OH), 13.94 (s, 1H, -OH), IR (KBr, cm− 1) υ = 611.58, 641.07, 662.48, 775.18, 831.46, 1217.42, 1579.46, 1597.41, 1634.23, 1679.26, 3230.86, 3302.86, 3397.43, MS (EI): m/z = 337.1426 (C19H19N3O3) cald m/z = 338.6032 for C19H19N3O3. The spectral examination yielded data that was compatible with the sensor 4 configuration [42–45].
UV-vis spectroscopies of C1 in an aqueous solution were recorded to examine their optical characteristics. Two peaks of absorption at 326 nm and 364 nm can clearly seen in the UV-vis spectrums (Fig. 3a). The absorption peak at 326 nm is due to the C = C bond (π-π* transition), whereas the C = O bond absorption peak is at 364 nm due to n-π* transition [44, 47]. However, after adding 1 equivalent of different metal ions such as Gd(III), Cr(III), Nd(III), Al(III), Mg(II), Hg(II), Mn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Na(I), Ag(I), K(I), Li(I), and the absorption spectra showed no discernible alterations. Only in the presence of copper, C1 showed a change in absorption peak wavelength to a higher wavelength (red shift) from 364 to 425 nm respectively. The hue of both the C1 + Cu(II) complex changed from bright yellow to dark brown colour with hypochromic shift appearance of a new peak at 425 nm (Fig. 1). Absorbance titrations were used to test the sensitivity of C1. When the concentrations of Cu(II) (0–1 equiv.) in C1 were increased, a progressive rise in the absorbance band at 425 and decreases at 364 nm (Fig. 2), indicating the creation of C1 + Cu(II) complex with high stability and absorption new band indicate ligand to metal charge transfer mechanism. The R2 = 0.9547 on the linear plot obtained from the titration reveals that S1 binds linearly to the Cu2+ ion (Fig. 3). The ratiometric graph found from the selectivity study demonstrated that the only addition of Cu2+ in C1 shows appreciates discriminating absorption shift (Fig. 4). The C1 absorption sensitivity check toward the Cu2+ in the presence of various major ions under the same medium and environmental condition. Furthermore, in the presence of Cu(II) ions, the sensor film's competitive sensitivity to several significant metal ions was determined, and the findings demonstrate that the developed sensor film with a high degree of chelation has a high sensitivity to Cu(II) ions. No change is observed in sensor film property (Fig. 5).
When Cu2+ ion solution was added to C1, the emission (exc = 425 nm) of C1 was investigated. In aqueous methanol, the emission spectra of C1 exhibit a very faint fluorescence band at 465 nm. The incorporation of the Cu2+ ion to C1 resulted in a significant quench in fluorescence (Fig. 6a). Increased fluorescence effect due to Cu2+ ion-induced chelation, the fluorescence enhancement is about 5 times larger than the individual receptor. The rise in emission intensity is most likely due to the complexation of the probe with Cu2+ through imine nitrogen and thiol SH, this reduces the accessibility of imine nitrogen atom lone pairs, shutting off PET and activating fluorescence. In this instance, the substantial CHEF effect stiffens the chemosensor framework, and inhibiting “isomerization of the C = N double bond of the C1 in an excited state may also result in a considerable increase in the C1's fluorescence intensity.” [27]. Fluorescence quenching refers to the absence of fluorescence. The C1 in aqueous methanol quenches the emission maxima and becomes "TURN-OFF" in this circumstance. When the Cu2+ ion was introduced to the C1, the emission maximum was dramatically increased, resulting in fluorescence ON (Fig. 5).
Fluorescence titration studies were carried out in order to have a better grasp of the sensing behaviour of C1 to Cu2+. The fluorescence intensity fell progressively as the quantity of Cu2+ increased, as seen in Fig. 6b. A considerable quenching of fluorescence was seen with the addition of 10 equiv. of Cu2+, with a 99 percent quenching efficiency [(I0 I)/I0 100 percent]. At roughly 0.5 mol fractions, a minimum was seen in the Job plots using fluorescence titrations, showing that sensor 1 formed 1: 1 combination with Cu2+ (Scheme 1).
HOMO-LUMO Analysis
The difference in energy between HOMO and LUMO is an important parameter for determining the excitability of molecules. In general, the frontier molecular orbital (FMO) diagram is a vital one to differentiate between the effect of metal binding with the sensors and its electronic characteristics. In this piece of research, to distinguish the same (i.e., effect of binding of Cu2+ with highly functionalized sensor S1) and its electronic characteristics, FMOs of Cu2+ with highly functionalized sensor S1 and highly functionalized sensor S1 alone have been assessed and the results provided interesting insights into the relevant LUMO/HOMO energy levels and electron distribution. Pictorial representation of electron distribution in LUMO and HOMO of the highly functionalized sensor S1 and its metal coordinated one (sensor S1 + Cu2+) are depicted in Fig. 6 and the associated energy values are furnished in Table 1. In the present case, the energy difference between the LUMO and HOMO of the highly functionalized sensor S1 is noted to be 3.00 eV which is higher than that of the distinction in energy between HOMO and LUMO of the sensor S1 + Cu2+ (2.80 eV). The results imply that the firmness of the highly functionalized S1 + Cu2+ complex is superior as a result of the explicit binding of highly functionalized sensor S1 with Cu2+ which meritoriously decreases the HOMO-LUMO energy difference (i.e., precise binding of highly functionalized sensor S1 to metal Cu2+ increases the stability of the sensor S1 + Cu2+ complex). In the HOMO of the highly functionalized sensor S1, the electron density is localized on the pyrazole unit and aryl moiety integrated at the N-position of pyrazole structural motif while in LUMO of the same, the electron density is localized mainly on the imino structural motif bridging between pyrazole and dihydroxyaryl scaffolds. On the other hand, in the HOMO of the highly functionalized sensor S1 + Cu2+, the electron density is denser on the dihydroxyaryl moiety, imino functionality as well as the pyrazole structural motif along with metal whereas in the LUMO of the same, the electron density is denser over the aryl moiety tethered at the N-of the pyrazole unit along with pyrazole structural motif. These observations imply that electron transfer from one part to another takes place within the molecules as for as HOMO and LUMO are concerned. Overall, the DFT results are in good harmony with the experimental outcomes of the metal binding. Broadbands were found in the FTIR spectra of pure ligand at 3238cm− 1 and 3062cm− 1, respectively, which correspond to the –OH and –NH stretching frequencies. At 1625cm− 1 and 1498cm− 1, respectively, carbonyl and imine stretching frequency characteristic bands developed clearly. In the FTIR spectra of the matching C1-Cu2+ combination (Figure S4 in supplement file), the unique bands associated with -OH and -NH are diminished/decreased, and the bands for carbonyl and imine stretching are relocated to a lower wavelength in the complex at 1662cm− 1 and 1492cm− 1, respectively. According to the above facts, the ligand's amide functionality must have been subjected to amido-imidol tautomerism for the imidol structure to become dominant during complexation. Because of the presence of N in the C = N with Cu, the band for the carbonyl and imine functional groups likewise moves to a shorter wavelength. m/z = 417.9258 (C19H20CuN3O4) cald m/z = 419.7101 for (C19H20CuN3O4) (Figure S5 in supplement file).
Table 1
Energies value of C1and C1 + Cu2+
Parameter
|
Energies (eV)
|
C1
|
C1 + Cu2+
|
HOMO
|
-6.1759
|
-4.9479
|
LUMO
|
-3.1768
|
-2.1477
|
ΔE
|
2.9991
|
2.8002
|
Ka was calculated using “Benesi-Hildebrand” and “Scatchard Plot” at 47340M− 1 and 48369M− 1 respectively (Figs. 8 and 9), showing the formation of stable complexation between Cu2+ and C1 with 1:1 Stoichiometry. From the equation LOD 3s/m, it was discovered that the detection limit is 649 nM. Job's receptor plot reveals peaks corresponding to 0.5 mole fraction for C1-Cu2+ complex formation, indicating 1:1 complex formation (Fig. 10). To assess the binding stoichiometry between C1 and Cu2+, a Job's plot for C1 with metal ions was built. It reached a climax at a mole ratio fraction of 1/2, showing that the binding mode of C1 with Cu2+ is 1:1 stoichiometry. Figure 9 displays a jobs plot of the host's absorbance H/([H]+[G]) at various concentrations. Where H stands for host and G for guest Cu2+ metal ions. The finding indicates that a 1:1 stoichiometry combination formed between C1 and Cu2+ [32]. The visible color shift that occurs when Cu2+is added to the C1 is an important component of this work, which looked at ONSITE Cu2+detection in water samples and the reversibility test with the addition of EDTA, and successful formation of EDTA + Cu and C1 (Figs. 11 and 12) [33].