Bis(2-hydroxy-3-isopropyl-6-methyl-benzaldehyde)ethylenediamine: a novel cation sensor.

Novel substituted phenol-based new symmetrical bis(2-hydroxy-3-isopropyl-6-methyl-benzaldehyde)ethylenediamine (1) has been designed and synthesized. The compound 1 fluorometrically recognized Cu(2+) ion in CH3OH/H2O (90:10, v/v) by exhibiting an increase in emission upon complexation. In addition, Cu(2+) gave rise to a change in colour of the solution of compound 1, which was clearly visible to the naked eye under UV irradiation. The association constant (K) of compound 1 with Cu(2+) ion was computed with the Benesi-Hildebrand plot and Scatchard plot at 43,000 M(-1) and 43,011 M(-1) respectively.