Microwave-assisted synthesis of a novel steroid-derived Schiff base chemosensor for detection of Al3+ in aqueous media

Abstract

A novel steroid-derived Schiff base chemosensor, N′-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-3α-hydroxy-cholanhydrazide (LA), has been designed and prepared via microwave irradiation. The sensor LA showed highly selective fluorescent sensing for Al3+ with a low detection limit of 34 nM in the pH range from 6.05 to 9.32 in ethanol/water (1:2, v/v) solution. The binding stoichiometry between LA and Al3+ was determined as 1:1 by Job’s plot and further verified with 1H NMR studies. Under a UV lamp, the fluorescence color changes could be easily detected by the naked eye. In addition, the sensor LA has been applied in detection of Al3+ in real water samples.