A Highly Sensitive and Selective Iron Ion Fluorescent Probe for Water-Soluble Pillar[5]Arene

Graphical As chemosensor, a novel d -gluconamide-functionalized water-soluble pillar[5]arene ( GWP5 ) displays high sensitivity and selectivity toward Fe 3+ ions over competing metal ions, based on fluorometric and colorimetric measurements. This fluorescent probe could be applied to the detection of Fe 3+ ions in real environmental water samples and in serum samples. A novel d -gluconamide-functionalized water-soluble pillar[5]arene ( GWP5 ) was synthesized through a simple synthetic route. GWP5 showed a remarkable aggregation-induced emission (AIE) with increasing concentration. This feature served as the basis for the construction of an AIE-based sensor for fluorescence detection of Fe 3+ with high sensitivity and selectivity, with a linear relationship between luminescence quenching and Fe 3+ concentration observed from 0 to 20 µM, and a limit of detection of 7.84 × 10 −9 M. This fluorescent probe could be applied to the detection of Fe 3+ ions in real environmental water samples and in serum samples.