Invited feature articleSalicylaldimine-based receptor as a material for iron(III) selective optical sensing

- Application of microwave irradiation ensures α,α-bis(salicylimino)-m-xylene synthesis in easy, fast, and efficient way.
- The reported compounds shows ability to colorimetric iron(III) recognition in aqueous solutions, what is shown by color change from yellow to purple.
- Incorporation of the ligand into polymeric matrix enables to iron(III) detection at pH 2.9 in aqueous solution with detection limit 2.73 × 10−6 M.
- Mechanism of ligand - iron(III) interactions on the basis of spectroscopic methods is proposed.

α,α-Bis(salicylimino)-m-xylene (L) was prepared using both conventional and microwave-assisted procedure. The compound exhibits ability to colorimetric recognition of iron(III) ions in aqueous environment, what is manifested by significant color change from yellow to purple. In DMSO: water (9:1 v/v) solvent system, receptor creates with iron(III) cations complexes of 2:1 stoichiometry (L:Fe3+) with stability constant (log K) 7.54 ± 0.21. Incorporation of ligand into polymeric matrix (cellulose triacetate) enables iron(III) detection in 100% aqueous solution at pH 2.9 with detection limit 2.73 × 10−6 M.

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