Chromo-luminescent selective detection of fluoride ions by a copper(ii) bis(terpyridine) complex solution via a displacement approach.

Herein, for the first time, we have reported a copper(ii) bis(terpyridine) complex solution for instant 'naked eye' chromo-luminescent selective detection of fluoride ions in an acetonitrile medium at micromolar concentration. The copper complex [Cu(ii) (L)2] (NO3)2 [where L = 4'-(4-N,N'-dimethylaminophenyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine] was characterized by mass spectroscopy and the terpyridine ligand by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The complex solution selectively discriminates F- ions from other anions such as AcO-, Br-, Cl-, CN-, H2PO4-, HSO4-, and I- in acetonitrile media via exceptional optical changes.