Biocompatible alkyne arms containing Schiff base fluorescence indicator for dual detection of Cd and Pb at physiological pH and its application to live cell imaging.

An alkyne arms containing salen-type Schiff base ligand, 6,6'-((1E,1'E)-(1,2-phenylenebis(azanylylidene))bis(ethan-1-yl-1-ylidene))bis(3-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenol) (HL), is reported here as a dual chemosensor for Cd and Pb ions. The ligand HL was characterized by various spectral methods. The ligand HL acts as a dual sensor for Cd and Pb in methanol/HEPES buffer (5 mM, pH 7.