A simple sensitive colorimetric/fluorometric probe for iodide.

A simple fluorene oligomer 7, 7'-bis(9, 9-bis(6-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)hexyl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl)-9,9,9',9'-tetrakis(6-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)hexyl)-9H, 9'H-2, 2'-bifluorene (OCZ) with peripheral carbazole side chains is synthesized and used to detect iodide (I(-)) as colorimetric/fluorometric probe. It shows high fluorescence quenching sensitivity and selectivity towards I(-). When OCZ acted as the colorimetric probe, the color change is observed with naked eyes at a very low concentration of 0.1 mM, which is among the best reported performances. The good sensitivity and selectivity may be due to the wide range of electron-rich carbazole groups.