A new half-condensed Schiff base platform: structures and sensing of Zn2+ and H2PO4− ions in an aqueous medium

Abstract

A newly designed and synthesized half-condensed organic moiety 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-[(2-phenylamino-phenylimino)-methyl]-benzaldehyde (HL′) and a Zn₂L₄ complex sequentially detect Zn²⁺ and H₂PO₄⁻ ions as low as 1.13 nM and1.23 μM, respectively. HL′ and a dinuclear Zn(II) complex of in situ generated L⁻ in a solution formulated as Zn₂L₄ under investigation were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic studies along with detailed structural analyses by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The selectivity and sensitivity of HL′ towards Zn²⁺ ions and of the Zn₂L₄ complex towards H₂PO₄⁻ ions are based on CHEF and via displacement pathways, respectively. Dual sensing of Zn²⁺ ions and H₂PO₄⁻ions in an aqueous medium via “Green-Blue-Green” emission with the reversible transformation of in situ formed HL′ to HL was established by detailed electronic absorption and emission spectroscopic studies. This non-cytotoxic probe (HL′, i.e. produced HL in solution) and Zn₂L₄ complexes are able to monitor the subcellular distribution changes of Zn²⁺ and H₂PO₄⁻ ions, respectively, by fluorescence microscopy using the human semen sample.