Chemodosimetric analysis in food-safety monitoring: Design, synthesis, and application of a bimetallic Re(I)–Pt(II) complex for detection of dimethyl sulfide in foods

Detection of neutral biogenic sulfides plays a crucial role in food safety. A new heterobimetallic Re(I)–Pt(II) donor–acceptor complex–[Re(biq)(CO)3(CN)]–[Pt(DMSO)(Cl)2] (1, biq = 2,2’-biquinoline)—was synthesized and characterized. The X-ray crystallographic and photophysical data for 1 are reported in this study. Complex 1 indicated the luminescent chemodosimetric selectivity for dimethyl sulfide, which persisted even in the presence of a variety of interfering vapors, with a detection limit as low as 0.96 ppm. The binding constant (log K) of 1 toward dimethyl sulfide was 3.63 ± 0.03. The analyte selectivity of the complexes was found to be dependent on the ligand coordinated to the Re(I) center. Real samples (beef, chicken, and pork) were monitored real-time for gaseous dimethyl sulfide. Complex 1 shows a linear spectrofluorimetric response with increasing storage time of the meats at 30 °C. Copyright © 2014 Royal Society of Chemistry.