A fluorescent color/intensity changed chemosensor for Fe3+ by photo-induced electron transfer (PET) inhibition of fluoranthene derivative

A fluorescent color/intensity changed fluoranthene derivative chemosensor for Fe3+ has been prepared and confirmed by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HRMS, and crystal data, which displays a high selectivity and antidisturbance for Fe3+ among environmentally and biologically relevant metal ions. Fluorescence studies show that fluorescent emission peak blue shifts about 100 nm with fluorescent intensity enhancing 75-fold, indicating a Fe3+-selective dual-emission behavior. Further study demonstrates the detection limit on fluorescence response of the sensor to Fe3+ is down to 10−7 M range. The fluorescence signals of chemosensor can be restored with o-phenanthroline, showing the binding of chemosensor and Fe3+ is really chemically reversible.

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► A fluorescent color/intensity fluoranthene-based chemosensor for Fe3+ is described.
► Compound 3 shows blue shift about 100 nm, intensity indicates 75-fold enhanced.
► Detection limit is down to 10−7 M range.
► Compound 3 can detect Fe3+ ions through dual-emission fluorescent behavior.
► The fluorescence signals can be restored with o-phenanthroline.