A Novel Anthracene–Imidazole‐based Fluorescent “Turn‐on” Chemosensor for Fe³⁺

Abstract

Over the past two decades, fluorescent chemosensors have emerged as important alternatives to traditional qualitative and quantitative analysis technologies. Such sensors have been designed and synthesized for various uses, including biological, environmental, medical, and electromagnetic applications. 1-12Fluorescent sensors are highly sensitive, easy to use, and have wide applicability. In addition, such sensors can be used for analyzing metal ions quickly and accurately via the formation of a complex between the fluorophore and the metal ion being detected. 13The fluorophore anthracene and its derivatives have been used widely for fluorescence sensing, including the detection of metal ions, simple inorganic anions, and small organic molecules as well as for pH measurements. [14][15][16][17] These materials also exhibit very interesting photophysical properties: both chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) and chelation-enhanced fluorescence quenching (CHEQ) have been observed during complex formation. [18][19][20][21][22] We had previously reported that 9, 10-bis(3-hydroxypropylamino-methyl)anthracene exhibits significant OFF-ON-type fluorescence responses after interacting with Fe 3+