Recognition of Mg2+ and Zn2+ based on a naphthalene-based fluorescent probe by regulating solvents

A naphthalene schiff-base which serves as a dual analyte chemosensor and quantifies Mg2+ and Zn2+ has been synthesized. The sensor shows “off-on” fluorescent response toward Mg2+ in acetonitrile while the detection of the sensor could be switched for Zn2+ by regulating solvents acetonitrile to a mixture of ethanol-water (v/v, 4:1). Both of the sensing mechanisms are attributed to the formation of 1:1 ligand-metal complexes which inhibit photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process.