A turn-on fluorescent Fe(3+) sensor derived from an anthracene-bearing bisdiene macrocycle and its intracellular imaging application.

Integrating N(2)-hydroxyethyldiethylenetriamine with anthracene gives a [2+2] macrocycle fluorescent sensor. This sensor displays an instant/reversible turn-on response specific to Fe(3+), which allows facile visualization of the Fe(3+)/Fe(2+) transition and intracellular Fe(3+) imaging.