8-Hydroxyquinoline Derivative as a Fluorescent Chemosensor for Zinc Ion

Abstract

8-Hydroxyquinoline derivative 1 as a fluorescent chemosensor for Zn²⁺ was synthesized. Because Cd²⁺ is often found with Zn²⁺ in the environment and can form fluorescent complexes with chelating fluorophores, a potentially important property of chemosensors for Zn²⁺ is their selectivity for Zn²⁺ over Cd²⁺. The Zn²⁺ or Cd²⁺ complexes of 1 gave an emission band from the 1:1 complex, but the fluorescence intensity for Cd²⁺ was a half of that for Zn²⁺. Ligand 1 is suited for use as a fluorescent chemosensor for Zn²⁺.