2,2′-[Benzene-1,2-diylbis(iminomethanediyl)]diphenol derivative bearing two amine and hydroxyl groups as fluorescent receptor for Zinc(II) ion

•Preparation of a novel fluorescent sensor for sensitive and selective determination of Zn2+ ions.•Highly selective, sensitive and rapid recognition of Zn2+ ion.•Zn2+ ion detection limit as low as 1.74 µM.

A new non-natural receptor 2,2′-[benzene-1,2-diylbis(iminomethanediyl)]diphenol (4) was synthesized, and it is fluorogenic behaviour toward various metal ions were investigated. Receptor 4 exhibited pronounced fluorescence enhancement in the presence of Zn2+, which can visually be discernible by an orchid fluorescence in compared to other metal ions. The receptor 4 shows high sensitivity and selectivity for Zn2+ through changes in the fluorescence intensity based on chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF). The binding modes of the complexes were investigated by Job’s plot and density functional theory (DFT).

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