Fluorescence emission in schiff bases of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol: Effect of chelation on the emission

Abstract

The absorption and emission spectra of the schiff base (I) derived from 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and o-aminobenzoic acid have been investigated in various solvents like N,N- dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, methanol and chloroform. Only in N,N-dimethylformamide, formation of phenoxide and cleavage of the imine bond is observed accompanied by changes in absorption and emission spectra. Results on the metal complexes of schiff base (I) indicate that the generation of phenoxide and cleavage of -CH=N-bond are retarded by chelation with metal ions like Cd²⁺ or Z²⁺ without quenching the emission, whereas chelation with Cu²⁺ or Fe²⁺ ions results in complete quenching of emission.