Fluorescent and chromogenic receptor bearing amine and hydroxyl functionality for iron (III) detection in aqueous solution.

The noncyclic 2,2'-[ethane-1,2-diylbis (iminomethanediyl)]diphenol (4) fluorescent receptor bearing two amine and hydroxyl groups have been designed and investigated for their binding properties towards various cations. The fluorescent spectral measurements revealed that receptor 4 is a selective fluorescent sensor for Fe(3+) ions but not for metal ions such as Cr(3+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+), Hg(2+), Pb(2+) and Bi(3+). The binding ability was confirmed with spectroscopic methods and density functional theory calculation (DFT). This straightforward and cost effective receptor provides rapid detection of Fe(3+) ions at concentrations as low as 2.5 μM and expected to be useful to design efficient chemically and biological sensor.