Synthesis, characterization, optical property of a bipyridine derivative and its application to determine trace Zn2+ in water

A new fluorescent bipyridine derivative 1-(2-amino-5-formylphenyl)-2-[2-amino-5-[(E)-2-[6-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl]vinyl]phenyl]ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (abbreviated as BPYTA) has been synthesized and characterized, which can be dissolved in water. Then its optical properties have been studied. When Zn2+ ion is added into BPYTA solution, the fluorescence intensity has a linear relationship with the concentration of Zn2+ ion. Meanwhile, BPYTA has little response to the existence of many other metal ions, especially Cd2+ ion. Thus, BPYTA has potential application in determining trace Zn2+ ion in water.