Schiff base-functionalized silatrane-based receptor as a potential chemo-sensor for the detection of Al3+ ions

Excess Al3+ ions are considered toxic to living organisms. Keeping the harmful effects of excess Al3+ metal ions in mind, a new Schiff base = functionalized silatrane as a potential chemo-sensor for the recognition of aluminium metal ions with high selectivity and specificity has been designed and well characterized using various characterization techniques such as IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, TGA, and mass spectroscopy. The chemo-sensing properties were studied using ultraviolet and fluorescence spectroscopy. The absorption spectrum of the synthesized receptor was changed only by the addition of Al3+ ions, while other ions showed negligible changes. The 1 : 1 stoichiometric ratio of the chemo-sensor 4b with Al3+ was confirmed by Job's plot and linearity in the B–H plot. The limit of detection observed for Al3+ ions was 2.273 × 10−7 M and 9.8 × 10−9 M from ultraviolet and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The binding constant from the B–H plot and the Stern–Volmer quenching constant were found to be 0.2279 × 106 M−1 and 2.7 × 106 M−1, respectively. These results explain the potential chemo-selectivity of the receptor 4b towards Al3+ metal ions, which may be useful for biological and industrial purposes.