3-[2-(8-Quinolinyl)benzoxazol-5-yl]alanine derivative—a specific fluorophore for transition and rare-earth metal ion detection

A novel aromatic amino acid, 3-[2-(8-quinolinyl)benzoxazol-5-yl]alanine derivative was synthesized as a potential Zn(II) and rare-earth metal, Eu(III) and Tb(III), ion chemosensor. The fluorophore was obtained using lead tetraacetate in DMSO to oxidize the Schiff base obtained from N-Boc-3-amino-tyrosine methyl ester and quinoline-8-carboxaldehyde. Preliminary photophysical properties of this ligand show that it possesses the properties necessary to be an effective chemosensor for Zn2+, Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions.