A Sc-3-HF Complex as a Fluorescent Chemosensor for the Selective Detection of Dihydrogen Phosphate

A method that uses a Sc-3-HF complex as a fluorescent chemosensor for the detection of dihydrogen phosphate ions has been developed. The Sc-3-HF complex exhibits excellent selectivity and sensitivity towards dihydrogen phosphate ions. The binding properties of the Sc-3-HF complex towards various anions are evaluated by fluorescence spectroscopic method. The results demonstrate that the Sc-3-HF complex can effectively distinguish H2PO4- from HSO4-, HPO4 2- and PO4 3-. These results of fluorescence reversibility experiments show that the Sc-3-HF complex can serve as a relay probe to detect dihydrogen phosphate ions with high selectivity and sensitivity in CH3CN-H2O (1 : 4, v/ v) solution.