A selective colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for Al3+ ion and its application to cellular imaging

A new rhodamine-based fluorescent turn-on chemosensor (L) for selective detection of Al3+ ion has been developed and characterized. The fluorescent chemosensor L was synthesized by the reaction of intermediate (4) with 2,5-bis (4-phenylacyl chloride)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (3). The chemosensor L displays an excellent selective and sensitive response to Al3+ ion over other metal ions, in which the spirocyclic (non-fluorescent) to ring opened amide (fluorescent) process was utilized and a 1:2 stoichiometry for L–Al3+ complex was formed with an association constant of 2.03 × 103 M−1. Furthermore, chemosensor L can be applied as a fluorescent probe for monitoring Al3+ in living cells by performing cell imaging studies.