Exploitation of a new Schiff-base ligand for boric acid fluorescent sensing in aqueous medium with bio-imaging studies in a living plant system

Abstract

A hydrolysis resistant Schiff-base ligand (L₁) consisting of an aromatic aldimine moiety appended to a triazole precursor along with phenolic–OH has been synthesized which acts as a fluorescence probe and exhibits rare selective sensing ability for boric acid (BA) in aqueous buffer medium at pH 7.3 by forming a 1 : 1 chelate complex. Reasons behind the complexation and subsequent fluorescence enhancement are well established using experimental as well as theoretical evidence. Bio-imaging studies are done using Arabidopsis Thaliana as the model plant system.