A new class of fluorogenic thiazolo[2,3-b]quinazolinone receptor: selective detection towards mercury and hydrogen bisulfate ions in aqueous medium.

A series of fluorophoric and structurally diverse thiazoloquinazoline derivatives were synthesized in a one-pot multicomponent cascade reaction using a microwave irradiation technique. The unique structural arrangement of the synthesized compounds encouraged us to design a new type of bioactive molecular receptor. This receptor interacts with HSO4 - in 1 : 1 and Hg2+ in 1 : 2 binding stoichiometric ratios resulting in a change in fluorescence as well as absorption spectra in aqueous medium. The ion bonded receptor complex possibly enhances the fluorescence signal of the receptor via H-bonded complex formation with HSO4 - ions and co-ordinate complex formation with Hg2+ ions.