A newly synthesized hydrazine-functionalized Schiff base chemoreceptor [ N 1 N 3 −bis(4-cyanobenzylidene)isophthalahydrazide], NBCBIH has been prepared and successfully utilized for selective detection of Fluoride ion. Herein, NH and C = N-like functional units have been incorporated which provide better colorimetric response compared to systems where such kind of units are absent. On exposure to F −, NBCBIH turns from almost colorless to yellow. The recognition is well-supported by UV-Vis, fluorescence and 1H-NMR in DMSO. The fluorescence quenching is well-explained by photoinduced electron transfer mechanism (PET). The limit of detection of F − with NBCBIH is 0.7 × 10 −4M
