Fluorescent and Chromogenic Receptor Bearing Amine and Hydroxyl Functionality for Iron (III) Detection in Aqueous Solution.

The noncyclic 2,2′-[ethane-1,2-diylbis (iminomethanediyl)]diphenol ( 4) fluorescent receptor bearing two amine and hydroxyl groups have been designed and investigated for their binding properties towards various cations. The fluorescent spectral measurements revealed that receptor 4 is a selective fluorescent sensor for Fe ions but not for metal ions such as Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Pb and Bi. The binding ability was confirmed with spectroscopic methods and density functional theory calculation (DFT). This straightforward and cost effective receptor provides rapid detection of Fe ions at concentrations as low as 2.5 μM and expected to be useful to design efficient chemically and biological sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]