LAUSR

Abstract 4-Hydroxy-3-nitroso-2H-chromen-2-one (HNC), a coumarin derivative has been synthesized through a very simple method, and its photo-physical properties were studied. HNC is used as a simple colorimetric as well as spectrophotometric chemosensor for the detection of Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Cu2+ ions, some even by naked-eyes. This process gives a sensitive readout of chemosensor HNC within a wide range of (4.5–1219.5) × 10−7 (M) at λmax 258 nm. HNC has greater binding and detection ability toward Fe2+ than that of 1,10-phenanthrolin, and it has greater binding ability for Fe2+ than that with Fe3+ also. We have also established a method for solid state sensing of iron salts by HNC. Moreover, the binding interaction of HNC with calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) established a groove binding mode.