A benzimidazole-based fluorescent chemosensor for Cu2+ recognition and its complex for sensing H2PO4− by a Cu2+ displacement approach in aqueous media

A benzimidazole-based dipodal receptor was designed and synthesized. The receptor recognized Cu2+ ions selectively in an aqueous medium in the presence of other metal ions. The resultant complex displayed selective sensing ability toward H2PO4− via a metal displacement process. The detection limits of the receptor to Cu2+, and the resultant complex to H2PO4−, were calculated to be 9.76 and 1.41 μM, respectively. These values are sufficiently low indicating that this system shows good potential for application in biological and environmental sample analyses.