A Ruthenium Bipyridyl Molecular Dye Sensitizer and an Excited-State Intermolecular Proton Transfer-Active Colorimetric Probe for Anions, with High Affinity Towards CN− in DMSO

A ruthenium bipyridyl-dye sensitizer (N) based on the naphthyl-thiazole anchoring-ancillary ligand was synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic methods of UV–Vis, 1H NMR, FTIR fluorescence. The functional properties N were investigated through its photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer mechanisms. Subsequently, displayed interesting transfer-based (ESIPT) that are complementary to molecular photovoltaic chemosensing properties. studied in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), due polar nature solubility dye. Dye exhibitions solvatochromism effect optoelectronic properties, while abilities inspected colorimetric activities, upon molar addition anions. Thus, it established a dual is potential dye with displaying high extinction coefficients acetone. In addition, found fluorometric probe selective sensitive biologically important anions CN−, F−, OH− AcO− fluorescence enhancement, as result hydrogen-bonding leading deprotonation. sensing probe, however, more strongly association CN−.