Fluorescent studies of salicylaldehyde and other related carbonyl compounds for the selective and sensitive detection of zinc(II) ions in aqueous solution.

Salicylaldehyde was found to have a high selectivity for zinc ions with simultaneous enhancement of fluorescence in aqueous buffer solution at optimum pH 8.5. The stoichiometry of the complex was determined to be 1:1 with a K(a) value of 3.4 × 10(4) M(-1) at 298 K. The fluorescence of the complex is not affected by common anions and Zn(2+) binds preferentially to salicylaldehyde in the presence of alkali, alkaline earth and heavy metal cations (Hg(2+), Cd(2+), Cr(3+) and Ni(2+)). This property is not observed with related phenolic compounds bearing a carbonyl group such as esters, amides, carboxylic acids and ketones.