Investigation of 2-Hydroxyacetophenone Nicotinic Acid Hydrazone as a Fluoride Sensor

In the present work, we studied the selective chemosensing behavior of 2- hydroxyacetophenone nicotinic acid hydrazone (H2L) with fluoride anion. Theoretical and experimental tools were deployed to understand the mechanism of sensing. Experimentally, upon the addition of fluoride to H2L, a change in colour was observed. The 1H NMR spectral studies showed a change in electronic environment around the N-H and O-H bonding sites of the receptor. UV visible spectrum confirmed the formation of a new complex and IR spectrum showed the absence of the hydrogen bond donor peaks. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were carried out in ground state and they were found to be in accordance with the experimental results