A novel thiophene functionalized silicon-cored compounds: Aggregation-induced emission enhancement and aqueous fluorogenic Fe3+ probes in bovine serum albumin

“Silicon-cored” compounds are well known for their high value glass transition temperature, high thermal stability and excellent optical properties, but the excellent optical properties was not used for fluorogenic probes especially for Fe 3+ probe. In this paper, a novel Fe 3+ probe based on thiophene functionalized silane, namely, bis[3,4-diphenyl-2,5-di(2-Thienyl)phenyl]methylphenylsilane (MPS) was designed and synthesized. MPS exhibits aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) property in water/tetrahydrofuran mixtures because of restricted intramolecular rotation. The abnormal optical properties enable MPS to detect Fe 3+ in aqueous-based solutions. The binding behavior of MPS aggregates to Fe 3+ and other transition metal ions were studied through UV–vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Exceptional fluorescence quenching of MPS occurred during Fe 3+ binding. The calculated detection limit was at ppb level, and the complex ratio of MPS to Fe 3+ is approximately 1:1. MPS has both exemplary activity and high selectivity toward Fe 3+ even in the presence of other metal ions. The test conditions were also expanded from water to bovine serum albumin and solid films. This study was an advancement for the application of “silicon-cored” compounds and provides guidance for using simple, low-cost, and high-selectivity Fe 3+ probes in aqueous solutions and in clinical applications.