A deoxypodophyllotoxin-based sensor for highly selective recognition of Hg2+ ion

A new deoxypodophyllotoxin-based probe 1 was prepared. Based on a selective and irreversible Hg2+-promoted desulfurization reaction, compound 1 exhibited high selectivity towards Hg2+ ion over other metal ions, accompanied by transformation of an arylthiocarbamate moiety (green-yellow) to an arylcarbamate one (colorless). The present study may open up a new opportunity for development of natural-product-based probes for selective detection of some specific metal ions.