Fluorogenic recognition of Zn(2+), Al(3+) and F(-) ions by a new multi-analyte chemosensor based bisphenol A-quinoline.

A new available multi-analyte fluorescent sensor based on a bisphenol A-quinoline conjugate (BFQ) was synthesized in two facile steps and was characterized systematically. BFQ exhibited an effectively selective and sensitive recognition toward Zn(2+)and Al(3+) cations in EtOH-H2O (v/v = 9/1) over other cations and F(-) anion in CH3CN over other anions with remarkably enhanced fluorescent intensities. According to the quantum yield (Φ) measurements, BFQ-Zn(2+), BFQ-Al(3+) and BFQ-F(-) complexes showed 16, 22 and 30 times higher Φ values than BFQ, respectively. The complexation properties of BFQ with Zn(2+), Al(3+) and F(-) ions were also examined by (1)H NMR titration experiments.