“Turn-on” Pb2+ sensing and rapid detection of biothiols in aqueous medium and real samples

Abstract

Detection of lead has continued to be of immense interest in the present industrial as well as environmental diaspora. To this end, we report a prudent Schiff base which enables the sensitive detection of Pb²⁺ ions in mixed aqueous medium. The probe is afforded by simple synthetic and purification processes. Further, the probe employs simple mechanistic detection of Pb²⁺ and also successively detects a host of biothiols. The sensor is also used to detect Pb²⁺ ions in real water samples and consecutive detection of a variety of biothiols, including functionalized thiouracils, in onion and garlic extract. The fact that the Pb²⁺–L ensemble is ‘non-selective’ towards any particular thiol substituted analyte in real samples could as well prove to be an interesting contribution for chemical and biological detoxification processes.