An investigation of some Schiff base derivatives as chemosensors for Zn(II): The performance characteristics and potential applications.

The fluorescence properties of four simple Schiff bases (LH2, LDMH2, LH2H and LDMHH2) and their potential application as chemosensors for the detection of zinc ion in aqueous solution have been investigated. While LH2 and LDMH2 have displayed specific recognition to Zn(II), the reduced derivatives (LH2H and LDMHH2) of these ligands have shown no fluorescence response due to the lack of CN group. The Job plots, fluorescence titration experiments and ESI-MS results indicate the formation of 1:1 complexes between sensors and Zn(II). The analytic methods based on LH2 and LDMH2 as chemosensors have been proposed and optimized to detect Zn(II) ions in aqueous solution. The optimized methods have shown a good range of linearity, high precision, good accuracy and low detection limit. As an alternative to these methods, LH2 and LDMH2 have the capability to detect Zn(II) ions by naked eye under UV lamp. Moreover, LH2-Zn and LDMH2-Zn complexes have the ability to be a staining agent for identifying the radiation treatment of food by DNA comet assay.