Novel pyrazoline-based selective fluorescent sensor for Zn2+ in aqueous media

This work describes the preparation of a novel pyrazoline compound and the properties of its UV–vis absorption and fluorescence emission. Moreover, this compound can be used to determine Zn2+ ion with high selectivity and a low detection limit in the HEPES (20 mM HEPES, pH = 7.2, 50% (v/v) CH3CN) buffer solution. This sensor forms a 1:1 complex with Zn2+ and shows a fluorescent enhancement by chelation enhanced fluorescence effect with good tolerance of other metal ions. In addition, this sensor is very sensitive with fluorometric detection limit of 0.12 μM.