Carbazole-hydrazinobenzothiazole a selective turn-on fluorescent sensor for Hg2+ ions - Its protein binding and electrochemical application studies

The sensor 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-1-((9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-6-yl)methylene)hydrazine (CBT-1) is successfully synthesized. The sensor CBT-1 showed selective detection of Hg2+ ions in pool of different metal ions through colorimetric and fluorimetric color changes. The sensing mechanism involves Intramolecular charge transfer process between carbazole unit and benzothiazole moiety on interaction with Hg2+ ions. The binding nature of CBT-1 and Hg2+ ion is understood with help of varied analytical techniques such as UV-vis, fluorescence, Mass IR spectral analysis and computational studies. The protein binding studies of CBT-1 and CBT-1+Hg2+ ensemble with protein (Bovine Serum Albumin, BSA) is carried out through one- and three-dimensional fluorescence spectral studies. The cyclic voltammetric analysis of the sensor CBT-1 with distinct metal ions has also been carried out to investigate its potential ability in electrochemical sensing of Hg2+ ions.