Two Rhodamine-based Turn on Chemosensors with High Sensitivity, Selectivity, and Naked-Eye Detection for Hg²⁺

Two novel rhodamine-based fluorescence enhanced molecular probes (RA₁ and RA₂) were synthesized, which were both designed as comparative fluoroionophore and chromophore for the optical detection of Hg²⁺. The recognizing behaviors were investigated both experimentally and computationally. They exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity for Hg²⁺ over other commonly coexistent metal ions in CH₃CN/H₂O (1:1, V/V) solution. Test shows that hydroxy benzene of rich electron was beneficial to the chelate of Hg²⁺ with sensors. The detection limit was measured to be at least 0.14 μmol/L. After addition of Hg²⁺, the color changed from colourless to pink, which was easily detected by the naked eye in both solution and hydrogel sensor.