A novel coumarin Schiff-base as a Ni(II) ion colorimetric sensor.

A novel coumarin Schiff base compound (L) prepared from 7-diethylaminocoumarin-3-aldehyde and 3-amino-7-hydroxycoumarin was synthesized and evaluated as a chemoselective Ni(2+) sensor. Addition of Ni(2+) to CH(3)CN solution of L resulted in a rapid color change from yellow to red together with a large red shift from 465 to 516 nm. Moreover, other common alkali-, alkaline earth-, transition- and rare earth metal ions induced no or minimal spectral changes. Experimental results indicated that L could be used as a potential Ni(2+) colorimetric and naked-eye chemosensor in CH(3)CN solution.