Search

Two hitherto unknown coordination complexes have been synthesized and studied using binucleating Schiff base ligand H 3 L. The ligand can selectively detect Mg2+ ions by change in fluorescence behavior. H 3 L is also useful for live cell imaging and in vivo detection of Mg2+ ions. [Display omitted] • One dinuclear CdII and one polynuclear ZnII complexes supported by H 3 L ligand. • Coordination induced formation of bis-oxazoline based macrocyclic ligand. • Chemo-sensing of Mg2+ ion by H 3 L. • Cytotoxicity study of H 3 L and the complexes. • In vivo sensing of Mg2+ by H 3 L through live cell imaging. In the present work, a discrete dinuclear cadmium(II) complex Cd 2 (μ−H 2 L)(μ−OH)Cl 2 ⋅H 2 O (1) and a dinuclear zinc(II) based 1D chain complex ({Zn 2 (L')(O 2 CCH 3)}ClO 4 ⋅3H 2 O) n (2) (where H 3 L = 2,6-bis{2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)ethylimino}methyl-4-methylphenol and H 2 L′ = bis-oxazoline (BOX) ligand), have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The Cd2+ ions in the first case showed straight cut incorporation of metal ions within the ligand pockets. In case of zinc(II), the coordination induced oxazolidine ring formation resulted in macrocyclic ligand formation having two adjacent coordination pockets. In complex 2, the acetate ion acts as an O,O linker and joins the Zn 2 nodes bound within the newly formed macrocyclic ligand bearing bis-oxazolidine rings to form 1D polymeric chain at the end. The H 3 L was next screened for its efficacy as selective fluorescence sensor for Mg2+ ions in aqueous MeOH medium. Steady state absorption and emission behaviour of H 3 L, 1 and 2 have been investigated. Time resolved fluorescence properties of H 3 L and the complexes 1 and 2 have been examined, and their lifetimes have been determined in 0.038–0.257 ns range. The cell viability in presence of H 3 L makes it a suitable candidate for application in live cell imaging studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]