Three europium(III) complexes, Eu(ectfd)3 (Hectfd = 1-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-7-yl)-4,4,4-trifluorobutane-1,3-dione), Eu(tta)3 (Htta = 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(thiophen-2-yl)-butane-1,3-dione), and Eu(dbt)3 (Hdbt = 2-(4',4',4'-trifluoro-1',3'-dioxobutyl)dibenzothiophene), were synthesized and employed to detect total bilirubin (BR) in blood-serum samples. UV-visible absorption and fluorescence (FL) spectroscopies were used to evaluate the selectivity of each europium (III) fluorescence probe to BR, which was shown to remarkably reduce the luminescence intensities of the europium(III) complexes at a wavelength of 612 nm. The luminescence intensity of each complex is linearly related to BR concentration. Eu(tta)3 was shown to be the more-appropriate fluorescence probe for the sensitive and reliable detection of total BR in blood serum samples than either Eu(ectfd)3 or Eu(dbt)3. This observation can be ascribed to special σ-hole bonding between Htta and BR. In addition, the optimal pH test conditions for the detection of BR in human serum by the Eu(tta)3 probe were determined. Sensitivity was shown to be dramatically affected by the pH of the medium. The experimental results reveal that pH 7.5 is optimal for this probe, which coincides with the pH of human serum. Furthermore, BR detection using the Eu(tta)3 luminescence probe is simple, practical, and relatively free of interference from coexisting substances; it has a minimum detection limit (DL) of 68 nM and is a potential candidate for the routine assessment of total BR in serum samples.
