A highly selective and sensitive salamo-salen-salamo hybrid fluorometic chemosensor for identification of Zn and the continuous recognition of phosphate anions.

A salamo-salen-salamo hybrid fluorescent chemical sensor (HL) was synthesized and characterized. It exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity to Zn in physiological pH range. Meanwhile, its zinc(II) complex (L-Zn) continuously responses phosphate anions in DMF/HO (v/v, 9:1) solution. Moreover, the identification processes are explored using characterization methods such as UV-absorption spectra, IR spectra and ESI-MS spectrum. In addition, the coordination mechanism of HPO and Zn were successfully exploited to make the chemical sensor reproducible. In short, the sensors HL and L-Zn will be promising detection devices for Zn and phosphate anions.