Fluorescent chemosensor based on sensitive Schiff base for selective detection of Zn2+.

A Schiff-base fluorescent compound - N, N'-bis(salicylidene)-1,2 - phenylenediamine (LH2) was synthesized and evaluated as a chemoselective Zn(2+) sensor. Addition of Zn(2+) to ethanol solution of LH2 resulted in a red shift with a pronounced enhancement in the fluorescence intensity. Moreover, other common alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal ions failed to induce response or minimal spectral changes. Notably, this chemosensor could distinguish clearly Zn(2+) from Cd(2+). Fluorescence studies on free Schiff base ligand LH2 and LH2 - Zn(2+) complex reveal that the quantum yield strongly increases upon coordination. The stoichiometric ratio and association constant were evaluated using Benesi - Hildebrand relation giving 1:1 stoichiometry. This further corroborated 1:1 complex formation based on Job's plot analyses.