Structurally simple ferrocene derivatives for selective cadmium sensing.

Three new ferrocene based Schiff bases 4-{[(E)-ferrocenylmethylidene] amino}benzenethiol (1b), 3-{[(E)-ferrocenylmethylidene]amino} benzenethiol (1c), 2-{[(E)-ferrocenylmethylidene]amino} benzenethiol (1d) have been synthesized to study their sensor property to various metal ions. It has been observed that 1b is highly fluorescent and its fluorescence changes in presence of metal ions. It was further observed that compound 1b is highly selective towards Cd(2+) ion in solution.