A Sensitive Schiff-Base Fluorescent Chemosensor for the Selective Detection of Zn2+

A Schiff-base fluorescent probe – N, N^/-bis(salicylidene) trans 1, 2 – diaminocyclohexane (H ₂ L) was synthesized and evaluated as a chemoselective Zn²⁺ sensor. Upon treatment with Zn²⁺, the complexation of H ₂ L with Zn²⁺ resulted in a bathochromic shift with a pronounced enhancement in the fluorescence intensity in ethanol solution. Moreover, other common alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal ions failed to induce response or minimal spectral changes. Notably, this chemosensor could distinguish clearly Zn²⁺ from Cd²⁺. The stoichiometric ratio and association constant were evaluated using Benesi – Hildebrand relation giving 1:1 stoichiometry. This further corroborated 1:1 complex formation based on Job’s plot analyses.