Rhodol-derived Colorimetric and Fluorescent Probe with the Receptor of Carbonothioate for the Specific Detection of Mercury Ions

Developing some methods that can simply and effectively detect mercury ions (Hg2+) in the environment and biological systems are very important due to the problems of high toxicity and biological accumulation. Herein, we report a simple rhodol-derived colorimetric and fluorescent probe rhodol-Hg with a recognition receptor of carbonothioate for the specific determination of Hg2+. The color of probe rhodol-Hg solution changed remarkably from colorless to pink in the presence of Hg2+, thus rhodol-Hg could act as a "naked-eye" probe for Hg2+. Additionally, this probe exhibited high selectivity and ultrasensitivity in aqueous solution with the limit of detection (LOD) of 1.4 nM toward Hg2+, and the linear range was 0 - 0.8 μM determined by turn-on fluorescence spectrometry. Importantly, this probe has been successfully used for the detection of Hg2+ in environmental waters and living cells.