A reversible bis(Salamo)-based fluorescence sensor for selective detection of Cd2+ in water-containing systems and food samples

Abstract

A novel, simple, highly selective, and sensitive fluorescence chemosensor for detecting Cd2+ that was constructed from a bis(salamo)-type compound (H4L) with two N2O2 chelating moieties as ionophore was successfully developed. Sensor H4L could show fluorescence turn-on response rapidly and significant selectivity to Cd2+ over many other metallic ions (Cu2+, Ba2+, Ca2+, K+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Sr2+, Co2+, Na+, Li+, Ni2+, Ag+, and Zn2+), and a clear change in color from colorless to yellow that can be very easily observed via the naked eyes in the existence of Cd2+, while other metallic ions do not induce such a change. Interestingly, its fluorescent intensity was increased sharply with the increased concentration of Cd2+. The detection limit of sensor H4L towards Cd2+ was down to 8.61 × 10-7 M.