Metal complexes of indole-3-acetic acid: synthesis,crystal structures,and Pb2+ chemosensing by cation-exchange reaction

Two binuclear complexes Cu₂(IA)₄(DMSO)₂]·CH₃OH (1), Cd₂(IA)₂(phen)₂I₂] (2), and one 1-D {Pb₂(IA)₄]·CH₃OH}_n (3) (IAH = indole-3-acetic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been prepared and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Both 1 and 2 are binuclear wherein the central Cu ions are bridged by IA in 1, while Cd ions are bridged by I^? in 2. Complex 3 has a 1-D chain structure based on secondary building units (SBUs) of Pb₂(IA)₄]. The three complexes show strong fluorescence emissions, and chemosensor behaviors for metal cations are investigated in mixed DMF/H₂O (1?:?9 v/v) solvent. The results reveal that 2 shows effective sensing to Pb²⁺. The mechanism of the detection to Pb²⁺ can be attributed to cation-exchange reaction between cadmium and lead ions.