A chiral (S)-BINOL based fluorescent sensor for the recognition of Fe(III) and cascade discrimination of α-amino acids

Minor groove thiosemicarbazone functionalized (S)-BINOL 1 has been synthesized starting from (S)-BINOL; these new thiosemicarbazone functionalized (S)-BINOL molecules introduce new opportunities in the field of chiral recognition and Fe(III) sensing. The developed sensor can serve as a turn off sensor for Fe(III) with high selectivity among metal ions tested. The in situ generated Fe(III) complex of 1 exhibit remarkable fluorescent chiral discrimination toward unmodified α-amino acids via a ligand displacement mechanism.