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

Abstract The fluorescence properties of four simple Schiff bases (LH 2 , LDMH 2 , LH 2 H and LDM H H 2 ) and their potential application as chemosensors for the detection of zinc ion in aqueous solution have been investigated. While LH 2 and LDMH 2 have displayed specific recognition to Zn(II), the reduced derivatives (LH 2 H and LDM H H 2 ) of these ligands have shown no fluorescence response due to the lack of C N 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 LH 2 and LDMH 2 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, LH 2 and LDMH 2 have the capability to detect Zn(II) ions by naked eye under UV lamp. Moreover, LH 2 -Zn and LDMH 2 -Zn complexes have the ability to be a staining agent for identifying the radiation treatment of food by DNA comet assay.