A selective N,N-dithenoyl-rhodamine based fluorescent probe for Fe3+ detection in aqueous and living cells

A novel N,N-dithenoyl-rhodamine based fluorescent and colorimetric Fe3+probe 1 was designed and synthesized by only one step from Rhodamine B hydrazide and 2-thiophenecarbonyl chloride.The structure of probe 1 was characterized by ~1 H NMR/~(13)C NMR spectroscopy,IR spectroscopy,and HRMS spectrometry.Accompanying with significant changes in visual color and fluorescent spectrum,probe 1 displayed good sensitivity for Fe~(3+)with an abroad pH span.The detection limit(3.76 μmol/L,0.2 mg/L) for Fe~(3+)was lower than WHO recommended value(0.3 mg/L) for drinking water.Using two thiophene carbonyl groups as coordinating functional recognition group,probe 1 showed excellent selectivity towards Fe3+over diverse coexistent metal ions and anions.The sensing mechanism between dithenoyl-substituted probe 1 and Fe~(3+)was further confirmed by ~1 H NMR and IR titration experiments,binding constants study,and Job's plot analysis.Furthermore,probe 1 also exhibited good cell membrane permeability and could be used as an efficient Fe~(3+) probe in living human cells.