A highly selective and sensitive “turn-on” fluorescent probe for Fe2+ and its applications

The determination of Fe2+ in living systems is of great significance owing to its crucial roles in the biological systems. Herein, a turn-on fluorescent probe based on N-oxide for detecting Fe2+ is designed and synthesized. The probe shows excellent sensitivity to Fe2+ with the detection limit of 0.21 μM. The coexistence interfering species have little influence on the fluorescence signal of the probe for detection of Fe2+. This turn-on response is accomplished via a redox-involved reaction triggered by Fe2+. The probe showed excellent cell membrane permeability and has been successfully used to monitor Fe2+ in living cell and zebrafish with a laser confocal fluorescence microscope and detect Fe2+ in real water samples.