A novel Schiff base oxime ligand (H2L) can be used as a turn-on fluorescent sensor for selective detection of Zn2+.
Sensor H2L vividly discriminates between Zn2+ and Cd2+.
Two tetranuclear complexes, [Zn4(L)4] and [Ni4(L)4] were synthesized and their crystal structures have been characterized.
Sensor H2L is regular and consistent in its binding with transition metal ions with a good 4:4 stoichiometry.