8-Hydroxyquinoline derivative as a fluorescent chemosensor for zinc ion.

8-Hydroxyquinoline derivative 1 as a fluorescent chemosensor for Zn2+ was synthesized. Because Cd2+ is often found with Zn2+ in the environment and can form fluorescent complexes with chelating fluorophores, a potentially important property of chemosensors for Zn2+ is their selectivity for Zn2+ over Cd2+. The Zn2+ or Cd2+ complexes of 1 gave an emission band from the 1:1 complex, but the fluorescence intensity for Cd2+ was a half of that for Zn2+. Ligand 1 is suited for use as a fluorescent chemosensor for Zn2+.