Synthesis and structural characterization of first adenine containing organosilicon nucleobase for the recognition of Cu2+ion

This work reports the synthesis and structural characterization of a new adenine based organosilicon nucleobase using an efficient and biocompatible Click approach. Synthetic procedure included the preparation of a new N-acetylinic linked propyl silatrane 3 whose structure was confirmed through Single crystal X-ray crystallography. The designed silatrane L is found to be highly selective and sensitive for detection of Cu2+with a color change from colourless to yellowish orange. The stoichiometry ratio of L + Cu2+was obtained 1:1 by Job's Plot. The binding of copper ions to the chemosensor was studied over wide pH range and the results demonstrated that the sensor worked well in the physiological range 6–9. Furthermore, the sensing of Cu2+was found to be reversible upon addition of EDTA. These results widen the scope of adenine based derivatives in the field of colorimetric probes. The newly synthesized silatrane 3 and the receptor L were successfully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques [IR, NMR (1H,13C) and Mass] and elemental analysis.