The fluorescent property of 3-[(2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl) methylideneamino]benzoic acid and its application as fluorescent chemosensor for Hg and Al ions.

This manuscript studies the fluorescent property of 3-[(2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl)methylideneamino]benzoic acid (HL). Fluorescent spectra show that in different solvents, HL displays different fluorescent properties, which can be attributed to the interaction between the solvents and HL. Further study indicates that HL exhibits a highly selective and sensitive recognition for Hg ions in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), Al ions in methanol and N,N'-dimethylformamide/water (DMF/HO, 1/1, v/v). The bonding modes and bonding ratio of HL and metal ions in different solvents are explored by Job's plot, H NMR titration, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The probable mechanisms were discussed.