Diastereoselectivity and molecular recognition of mercury(II) ions

Two diastereoisomers of a new heteroleptic ruthenium cis-dithiocyanate dicarboxy-bipyridyl phenanthrolyl complex have been synthesized and characterized. This type of complexes can selectively bind mercury ions through the sulphur atoms on the thiocyanate groups. The properties of these complexes as chemosensor towards Hg²⁺ in solution and anchored onto a mesoporous Al₂O₃ film have been studied and analysed. A different level of sensitivity versus mercury ions in aqueous solutions was observed for each stereoisomer.