Simple salicylaldimine-functionalized dipodal bis Schiff base chromogenic and fluorogenic chemosensors for selective and sensitive detection of Al3+ and Cr3+

Two salicylaldimine-functionalized ether based dipodal bis Schiff base low cost fluorescent colorimetric chemosensors L1 and L2 have been designed and synthesized. These sensor could simultaneously detect Al3+ and Cr3+ by change in both absorption and fluorescence intensity in CH3CN-H2O (1/1, v/v). The detections limits of the sensor L1, for Al3+ (1.73 × 10−7 M) and Cr3+ (1.12 × 10−7 M) and of the sensor L2, for Al3+ (4.34 × 10−7 M) and Cr3+ (7.73 × 10−7 M) are far below than the limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. These chemosensors find application in colorimetric test kits and real sample analysis.