Pentaquinone based probe for nanomolar detection of zinc ions: chemosensing ensemble as an antioxidant.

A pentaquinone based compound 3a has been synthesized which undergoes significant fluorescence enhancement in the presence of Zn(2+) ions with a detection limit up to nanomolar range in THF. Further, the zinc ensemble of 3a is evaluated for its anti-oxidizing property which is better than commercially available antioxidants.