This contribution
describes a novel method for the detection of
trace amounts of trinitrotoluene (TNT) using a cluster of hexamolybdenum
with general formula [Mo
6
Cl
14
]
2–
. The molybdenum cluster was characterized by UV–visible,
FT-IR, and fluorescence techniques, and the synthesis was efficient
and reproducible. The evaluation of the molybdenum cluster by TNT
detection was perfomed by fluoresecent measurements, and the results
were interpreted by the Stern–Volmer equation, obtaining
K
SV
values of 2.9 × 10
5
and 1.6
× 10
4
M
–1
in different concentration
ranges. Further, the results suggest that at TNT concentrations higher
than 4 × 10
–5
mM (0.01 mg L
–1
) it is possible to measure the quenching of the cluster fluorescence.
The DFT calculations indicate that the contribution of the TNT in
the active lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals that are involved
in the higher intensity transitions in the complex cluster–TNT
are significant. This situation differs from all the luminescent [M
6
X
8
L
6
]
2–
clusters (M
= Mo; X = facial bridging ligand, and L = labile axial ligands), where
most of the closely spaced excited states are located in the {M
6
X
8
}
q
+
core. Thus, the
TNT switches off the cluster luminescence. The approach using a [Mo
6
Cl
14
]
2–
-based fluorescence sensor
has the potential to be a sensing technology for the detection of
nitroaromatic explosives.