A high selective “turn-on” fluorescent chemosensor for detection of Zn2+ in aqueous media

A simple Schiff base fluorescent probe (SW) composed of oxime and salicylaldehyde units was designed and synthesized. The probe has high selectivity and sensitivity for Zn2+ ion in mixed solvent (DMSO/H2O, V/V = 9:1). The fluorescence has obvious redshift phenomenon and visible color change. The stoichiometric ratio of the probe to Zn2+ ion was confirmed to be 1:2 (mole) by 1H NMR, MS analysis and job curves. And the detection limit of fluorescence response of the SW to Zn2+ is down to 2.53 × 10–8 mol/L. At the same time, the probe SW can be applied to the test paper detection of Zn2+ ions under 365 nm UV light and the detection of Zn2+ ions in actual water samples.