1,3,5-Triaryl-2-penten-1,5-dione anchored to insoluble supports as heterogeneous chromogenic chemosensor

N-Allyl substituted 1,5-diphenyl-3-(4-N-methylaminophenyl)-2-penten-1,5-dione () has been immobilized on a polystyrene backbone, on the surface of mercaptopropyl-functionalized silica or inside the cavities of zeolite NaY. These solids either in suspension or in films act as chemosensors of Fe3+ and other strong Lewis acid metal ions such as Cu2+ and Pb2+ in buffered water or ethanol. Brönsted acids in low pH aqueous solutions also produce the response of the sensor. For sensing of Fe3+, depending on the loading of (typically from 2.5 to 0.5 wt%) the solids can test from 10−2 to 10−4 M aqueous solutions. The time response can vary from tens of minutes to below a minute depending on hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature of the support and also on the loading. The solid sensor was reused up to 10 times by regenerating after every use the initial form with NaAcO treatment.