Fluorescent chemosensor for metal ions using a polymer having pendant pyridylbenzoxazole groups

Abstract

A polymer having fluorescent pyridylbenzoxazole groups has been prepared for the purpose of detecting of metal ions. Metal ions such as Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Fe2+ were found to coordinate with the bipyridyl-like fluorescent benzoxazole chromophores. Among the metal ions investigated, the Fe2+ ion was shown to be the most effective in terms of its fluorescence quenching ability. The addition of a metal scavenger 2,2'-dipyridyl to the metal ion-quenched polymer solution resulted in the recovery of the fluorescence.