A highly efficient Zn2+ “turn-on” fluorescent sensor, [4′-benzo-15-crown-5]N CH–(2-OH–C6H4) (HL), has been synthesized. In the presence of Zn(NO3)2, HL displays high selectivity and sensitive enhancement of fluorescence intensity in water with the formation of [ZnL2]. Addition of an equimolar amount of KNO3 to [ZnL2] leads to the formation of {[KZnL2]NO3}n.
Safin, D., Babashkina, M. G., & Garcia, Y. (2013). Crown ether-containing Schiff base as a highly efficient “turn-on” fluorescent sensor for determination and separation of Zn2+ in water. Dalton Transactions, 42(6), 1969-1972. https://doi.org/10.1039/C2DT32445H (Original work published 2013)