Novel fluorescent molecular clips: selective recognition towards Fe3+ in aqueous solution

In this paper, we report the synthesis, characterization and Fe(3+)-sensing properties of a series of new artificial fluorescent molecular clips, and structure of clip 1 is confirmed by X-ray crystallography. All these molecular clips had the ability to bind and sense Fe(3+) selectively through decrease fluorescence responses in THF-MeOH-Water. Fluorimetric titration experiment indicated that the quenching of these compounds' fluorescence upon Fe(3+) probably arises from the electron/energy transfer between Fe(3+) and the excited chemosensors. The limit of detection, linear concentration range and selectivity of the fluorescent molecular clips were evaluated in this study as well.