Both visual and fluorescent sensors for Zn(2+) based on bis(pyrrol-2-yl-methyleneamine) platform

Two bis(pyrrol-2-yl-methyleneamine) chemo-sensors, 1, 3- and 1, 4-bis[3,4-dimethyl-5-ethyloxy -carbonyl-pyrrol-2-yl-methyleneamine]benzene (H2L(1) and H2L(2), respectively) have been synthesized and characterized, which exhibit high selectivity as off-on fluorescence sensors toward Zn(2+) in CH3CN/H2O (9:1, v/v) solution. The detection limits of both sensors are at the parts per million level. Moreover, the probes H2L(1) and H2L(2) could sense Zn(2+) by "naked eye" with a color change from colorless to yellow, and from yellow to dark yellow, respectively. To test the practical use of the probes, the determination of Zn(2+) in real water samples was also evaluated.