Thiacalix[4]arene based fluorescent probe for sensing and imaging of Fe3+ ions.

A thiacalix[4]arene based fluorescent chemosensor 3 in the cone conformation has been synthesized and its recognition behaviour is evaluated toward various metal ions in mixed aqueous media. The chemosensor 3 showed high selectivity towards Fe(3+) ions by fluorescence quenching of excimer emission. Further, evaluation of the 3·Fe(3+) complex prepared in situ demonstrated great promise for the detection of the Fe(3+) ion in the presence of amino acids, blood serum and bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution. The compound 3 has suitable permeability into the PC3 cells and can be utilized as a Fe(3+) selective sensor in living cells (PC3 cells).