Fluorescence quenching of acridinium and 6-methoxyquinolinium ions by Pb2+, Hg2+, Cu2+, Ag+ and hydrogen sulphide

Abstract The quenching of the fluorescene of cationic derivatives of 6-methoxyquinoline and acridine by various heavy metal cations and hydrogen sulphide ion have been studied in detail. Stern—Volmer constants were determined and quenching was found to be exclusively dynamic, except for the hydrogen sulphide ion, which acts as both a dynamic and static quencher. The highly efficient static quenching process is interpreted in terms of nucleophilic attack of hydrogen sulphide to the 9-position of acridinium ion, thereby destroying the conjugated system of the fluorophore.