A differentially selective probe based on diketopyrrolopyrrole with fluorescence turn-on response to Fe3+, and dual-mode turn-on and ratiometric response to Au3+, and its application in living cell imaging

A diketopyrrolopyrrole–based probe DPP-PyR was able to recognize Fe3+ and Au3+ with fluorescent turn–on response via different emission modes with relatively low detection limit. Moreover, DPP-PyR exhibited preferential second mode of selectivity for Au3+ as it ratiometrically displaced Fe3+ from the [DPP-PyR+Fe3+] complex. Furthermore, the imaging experiments indicated that this probe was cell–permeable and could be used to detect Fe3+ and Au3+ ions within living cell. To the best of our knowledge, it was the first probe for detection Fe3+ and Au 3+ at the same time ever reported.