Coumarin-Picolinohydrazone derived Schiff base as fluorescent sensor(OFF-ON) for detection of Al3+ ion: Synthesis, Spectral and theoretical studies

•New coumarin based Schiff base (7MIZ) acted as fluorescent sensor for detection of Al3+ ion among different metal ions (chloride salts) with high selectively.•Showed fluorescence turn ‘ON’ behavior of aluminium ion when it interacted with the probe.•Job's plot, binding constant value and LOD value were calculated between probe (7MIZ) and Al3+ ion.•DFT studies (B3LYP and M06-2X level of theories) were carried out to establish the interaction between probe (7MIZ) and Al3+ ion. New coumarin based Schiff base (7MIZ) was synthesized and characterized by various spectral techniques and the true nature was established by X-ray single crystal studies. The probe (7MIZ) acted as fluorescent sensor for detection of Al3+ ion among different metal ions (chloride salts) with high selectively. There was a drastic enhancement in the emission intensity at 482 nm showed fluorescence turn ‘ON’ behavior of the probe when it interacted with Al3+ ion which may be due to CHEF (chelation enhanced fluorescence) effect that inhibited the PET (photo-induced electron transfer) mechanism. Further, Job's plot, binding constant value, LOD value, DFT studies established the interaction between probe (7MIZ) andAl3+ ion and MTT assay studies were carried out for the probe (7MIZ) and Al3+ ion in Breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). [Display omitted]