A highly selective and sensitive “turn-on” fluorescent probe for Fe2+ and its applications

The determination of Fe 2+ in living systems is of great significance owing to its crucial roles in the biological systems. Herein, a turn-on fluorescent probe based on N -oxide for detecting Fe 2+ is designed and synthesized. The probe shows excellent sensitivity to Fe 2+ with the detection limit of 0.21 μM. The coexistence interfering species have little influence on the fluorescence signal of the probe for detection of Fe 2+ . This turn-on response is accomplished via a redox-involved reaction triggered by Fe 2+ . The probe showed excellent cell membrane permeability and has been successfully used to monitor Fe 2+ in living cell and zebrafish with a laser confocal fluorescence microscope and detect Fe 2+ in real water samples. • A turn-on fluorescent probe based on N -oxide for detecting Fe 2+ was designed and synthesized. • The proposed method determined Fe 2+ with high sensitivity and selectivity. • Successful detection of Fe 2+ was performed in cells and zebrafish.