Structural study of a novel acetylide-thiourea derivative and its evaluation as a detector of benzene

The new derivative 1-hexanoyl-3-(4-p-tolylethynyl-phenyl)-thiourea (APHX) was synthesised by the addition reaction between 4[4-aminophenyl] ethynyltoluene and hexanoyl isothiocyanate in acetone. The acetylide group was incorporated by using Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction allowing for the preparation of acetylide-thiourea compound. APHX was then elucidated via single crystal X-ray crystallography analysis, spectroscopic and elemental analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), UV–visible analysis, CHNS-elemental analysis. APHX was also evaluated theoretically via density functional theory (DFT) approach. APHX was fabricated onto glass substrate via drop-cast technique prior to act as optical thin-film and its performance as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) sensor was investigated through the difference in UV–vis profile before and after exposure towards benzene. Preliminary findings revealed that APHX showed interaction towards benzene with about 48% sensitivity. According to thermogravimetric studies, APHX showed good thermal stability, without decomposition up to ca. 190 °C. Whilst, crystal structure of APHX consists in a nearly planar acylthiourea moiety with the C[dbnd]O and C[dbnd]S bonds utilizing trans position, favoring by an intramolecular N[sbnd]H⋯O[dbnd]C hydrogen bonds. The alkyl chain is oriented 90° with respect to acylthiourea group. The phenyls group in the 1-methyl-4-(phenylethynyl)benzene moieties are mutually planar and slightly twisted with respect to the acylthiourea plane. Centrosymmetric dimers generated by intermolecular N[sbnd]H⋯S[dbnd]C and C[sbnd]H⋯S[dbnd]C hydrogen bonds forming R22 (8) and R21(6) motifs are present in the crystals. The interaction between APHX with benzene has been modelled and calculated using density functional theory (DFT) via Gaussian 09 software package and the preferred sites of binding are located at the acylthiourea group.