In this communication, we wish to report the design, synthesis and real life application of new azomethine ligand, H2L, containing electron withdrawing groups. The prepared ligand was characterized using spectroscopic methods (IR, 1H NMR UV-Vis) as well as elemental analysis. Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of H2L were also prepared and characterized. The sensing ability of H2L towards various metal cations (Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Sn2+, Cr3+, Mn2+ and Mg2+ as their chloride salts), has been investigated qualitatively by visual examination of the cation-induced color changes of the receptor in DMSO. Furthermore, to provide fundamental insights about sensing ability of H2L, the cation recognition behavior of the current receptor was explored using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The result indicated that H2L bound with Ni2+ and Cu2+ in a 1:1 binding stoichiometry. The detection limit of Ni2+ and Cu2+ were also reported.
