Novel thiosemicarbazone based sensors for transition metals†

A novel and efficient thiosemicarbazone based chemosensor for the detection of transition metals through UV-visible fluorescence has been reported in this research. Dibenzyl thiosemicarbazones can bind with the transition metal ions and lead to the enhancement of the fluorescence. The reported dibenzyl thiosemicarbazone can detect Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Hg²⁺ appreciably due to inhibition of electron transfer while quenching of fluorescence occurs in Mn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ due to photoinduced electron transfer.