1-(d-Glucopyranosyl-2′-deoxy-2′-iminomethyl)-2-hydroxynaphthalene as chemo-sensor for Fe in aqueous HEPES buffer based on colour changes observable with the naked eye

A new glucose-based C2-derivatized colorimetric chemo-sensor (L₁) has been synthesized by a one-step condensation of glucosamine and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde for the recognition of transition metal ions. Among the eleven metal ions studied, viz., Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺, L₁ results in visual colour change only in the presence of Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺and Cu²⁺ in methanol. However, in an aqueous HEPES buffer (pH 7.2) it is only the Fe³⁺ that gives a distinct visual colour change even in the presence of other metal ions, up to a concentration of 280 ppb. The changes have been explained based on the complex formed, and the composition has been determined to be 2:1 between L₁ and Fe³⁺ based on Job’s plot as well as ESI MS. The structure of the proposed complex has been derived based on HF/6-31G calculations.