Highlights

● Two simple and safest steps to synthesize 2-oxo-2-(quinolin-8-ylamino)acid (OQAA)

which are direct aminolysis and hydrolysis of the ester.
● Theoretically and experimentally characterization of OQAA
● OQAA exhibited remarkable and excellent fluorescence enhancement selective and
qualitatively only for Zn2+ than other metal cations tested.
● Binding studies of OQAA and Zn2+ via Job’s plot and 1H NMR analysis.
● OQAA could be effectively and potentially used for further optimization and fabrication
for Zn2+ fluorescent labels.