Rhodamine-aminopyridine based fluorescent sensors for Fe3+ in water: Synthesis, quantum chemical interpretation and living cell application

- Three novel rhodamine-aminopyridine sensors were synthesized.
- Rhodamine-aminopyridine sensors can be used to detect Fe3+ ions in water.
- Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to rationalize the design.
- Rhodamine-aminopyridine sensor (RC2P) was used as paper test strip and in living cells.