Optical Chemosensors and Chemodosimeters for Anion Detection Based on Merrifield Resin Functionalized with Brooker’s Merocyanine Derivatives

Dyes supported on polymer materials have shown relevance in obtaining optical devices for anionic analyte detection. Thus, in this study, Merrifield resin was functionalized with protonated or silylated perichromic probes, derived from Brooker’s merocyanine to be used in chemosensor and chemodosimeter approaches for the detection of anionic species. The phenolic and silylated functionalized resins were characterized by infrared spectrophotometry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and optical and confocal microscopy techniques. These materials were studied in trichloromethane as chromogenic and fluorogenic systems for H2PO4–, CN–, CH3COO–, and F– detection. Furthermore, the functionalized polymers were analyzed by laser scanning confocal microscopy and showed multifluorescence in all cases, due to the fact that the dye is distributed in different microenvironments in the Merrifield resin. These devices have the potential to be studied through multivariate image analysis to obtain faster and simpler results in the detection of anionic analytes.