Rapid Detection of Cd(2+) Ions in the Aqueous Medium Using a Highly Sensitive and Selective Turn-On Fluorescent Chemosensor

Herein, a novel optical chemosensor, (CM1 = 2, 6-di((E)-benzylidene)-4-methylcyclohexan-1-one), was designed/synthesized and characterized by (1)H-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. The experimental observations indicated that CM1 is an efficient and selective chemosensor towards Cd(2+), even in the presence of other metal ions, such as Mn(2+), Cu(2+), Co(2+,) Ce(3+), K(+), Hg(2+),(,) and Zn(2+) in the aqueous medium. The newly synthesized chemosensor, CM1, showed a significant change in the fluorescence emission spectrum upon coordination with Cd(2+). The formation of the Cd(2+) complex with CM1 was confirmed from the fluorometric response. The 1:2 combination of Cd(2+) with CM1 was found optimum for the desired optical properties, which was confirmed through fluorescent titration, Job’s plot, and DFT calculation. Moreover, CM1 showed high sensitivity towards Cd(2+) with a very low detection limit (19.25 nM). Additionally, the CM1 was recovered and recycled by the addition of EDTA solution that combines with Cd(2+) ion and, hence, frees up the chemosensor.