An AIE active fluorescence sensor for measuring Fe3+ in aqueous media and an iron deficiency anemia drug

Abstract

In this study, a new tetraphenylethene derivative bearing triazole and pyridine moieties (TPE–TAP) was synthesized using click chemistry. The fluorescence sensing properties of TPE–TAP were investigated in almost 100% aqueous media. For this purpose, first of all, structural characterization of the newly synthesized compound TPE–TAP was performed by NMR and HRMS analyses. Then, the optical behavior of TPE–TAP was investigated in different ratios of a THF–water mixture (0–98%). The obtained results showed that the best fluorescence for TPE–TAP was observed in the presence of 98% water in the medium. Then, the ion selectivity of TPE–TAP was determined using 19 different cations in the THF–water medium (2 : 98 v/v%). It was observed that among the cations studied, only Fe³⁺ quenched the fluorescence of TPE–TAP. The detection limit and binding constant values of TPE–TAP for Fe³⁺ were calculated as 1.3 μM and 26.65 M⁻², respectively, from the graph results of the decrease in the fluorescence intensity of TPE–TAP in the presence of Fe³⁺ at different concentrations. In addition, the study investigating the selectivity of TPE–TAP in the presence of 18 cations other than Fe³⁺ showed that none of the studied cations interfered with Fe³⁺. Practical application of TPE–TAP was also carried out using a commercial iron drug. All results showed that TPE–TAP is a fluorometric sensor highly selective, sensitive, and suitable for practical application for Fe³⁺ ions in aqueous medium.