X-ray Structure Elucidation of a Pt-Metalloporphyrin and Its Application for Obtaining Sensitive AuNPs-Plasmonic Hybrids Capable of Detecting Triiodide Anions

The development of UV–vis spectrophotometric methods based on metalloporphyrins for fast, highly sensitive and selective anion detection, which avoids several of the practical challenges associated with other detection methods, is of tremendous importance in analytical chemistry. In this study, we focused on achieving a selective optical sensor for triiodide ion detection in traces based on a novel hybrid material comprised of Pt(II) 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-methoxy-phenyl)-porphyrin (PtTMeOPP) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). This sensor has high relevance in medical physiological tests. The structure of PtTMeOPP was investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction in order to understand the metal surroundings and the molecule conformation and to assess if it qualifies as a potential sensitive material. It was proven that the Pt-porphyrin generated 1D H-bond supramolecular chains due to the weak C-H···O intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The presence of ordered voids in the crystal encouraged us to use PtTMeOPP as the sensing material for triiodide ion and to enhance its potential in a novel AuNPs/PtTMeOPP hybrid by the synergistic effects provided by the plasmonic gold nanoparticles. The spectrophotometric sensor is characterized by a detection limit of 1.5 × 10(−9) M triiodide ion concentration and a remarkable confidence coefficient of 99.98%.