Benzyloxyaniline Derived Schiff Base as an Effective Tool for Colorimetric Al(III) Sensing and Potency Against Aluminium Toxicity

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution poses significant environmental threats due to the non-biodegradable, persistent, and toxic nature of these metals. They accumulate in various environmental components, leading to contamination of water, soil, and air, which adversely affects ecosystems and human health. In the current study, a new set of 3-benzyloxy aniline-derived Schiff bases have been synthesized. Various spectroscopic techniques, including ¹H and ¹3C NMR, IR, TGA, and mass spectrometry have been used to characterize the synthesized Schiff Bases, 4(a-d). Among them, 4c demonstrated exceptional selectivity and sensitivity for Al(III) characterized by a color change from colorless to pale yellow with a detection limit of 14.2 × 10⁻⁸ M. Metal, complex of 4c and Al(III) has been synthesized and characterized using (¹H and ¹³C) NMR, FT-IR and mass spectrometry. Compound 4c was assessed for its efficacy against aluminum toxicity in Vigna radiata (Mung bean) and exhibited significant results in promoting plant survival under extreme metal stress. The potential biological applications of Schiff Base, 4c were investigated through in-silico studies targeting the protease enzyme pathway, which is crucial for the replication, survival, and various cellular functions of the dengue virus. The findings revealed a low inhibition constant of 383.45 nm and a high binding energy of −8.75 Kcal mol⁻¹, suggesting that ligand 4c may serve as an effective inhibitor against the dengue virus.