Fast and sensitive fluorescent detection of inorganic mercury species and methylmercury using a fluorescent probe based on the displacement reaction of arylboronic acid with the mercury species

Abstract

We present a reaction-based fluorescent probe (1) for Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺, based on the displacement reaction of the arylboronic acid with the mercury species. 1 showed promising sensing properties for Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺, such as high selectivity and sensitivity, turn-on response, fast response to Hg²⁺ (<2 min) and CH₃Hg⁺ (<5 min), low detection limits and operation in purely aqueous solutions.