Novel dipodal Schiff base compounds: Synthesis, characterization and spectroscopic studies

•Novel dipodal Schiff base chemosensors were synthesized.•Emission and absorbance studies were investigated.•Sensitivity of sensors towards Pb(II) and Cu(II) were proved.

Two novel dipodal Schiff base compounds 1,2-benzyloxy-bis-[2-(benzylideneamino)phenol, L1 and 1,2-benzyloxy-bis[3-(benzylideneamino)pyridine], L2 were synthesized. Their sensing actions were confirmed by UV–Vis absorbance and emission spectroscopic studies in presence of Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Sn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) in methanol medium (1 × 10–4 M). It was found that the dipodal compounds can selectively bind to Cu(II) and Pb(II) metal ions with a significant change in its emission and absorption spectra, while the addition of other metal ions (Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Sn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II)) produces insignificant or minor changes. The host–guest complexes formed were determined by Job’s plot method. As a chemosensor, L1 and L2 dipodal Schiff base compounds shows a specific selectivity towards Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions in according to all spectroscopic data.