A turn-on and reversible Schiff base fluorescence sensor for Al 3+ ion

A simple Schiff-base receptor 2 was prepared. It exhibits an "off-on-type" mode with high sensitivity in the presence of Al 3+. The receptor 2 exhibited a high association constant with submicromolar detection for Al3+ in EtOH-H2O (95 : 5 v/v) solution. The addition of EDTA quenches the fluorescence of the receptor 2·Al3+ complex offering receptor 2 as a reversible chemosensor.