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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