A highly selective fluorescent chemosensor for cyanide anions based on a chalcone derivative in the presence of iron(iii) ions, and its capacity for living cell imaging in mixed aqueous systems†
Abstract
A chalcone, 4-dimethylamino 4-fluorochalcone (1) with donor–acceptor structure characteristics is found to exhibit a distinct green fluorescence and good stability in CH3CN/water (v/v = 1 : 9) buffer solution (Tris-HCl, pH = 7.4), and the in situ formed 1–Fe3+ complex upon addition of Fe3+ serves as a highly selective cyanide anion probe via a turn-on fluorescence mechanism. Furthermore, the fluorescence imaging experiments of 1–Fe3+ in the presence of CN− in human glioma living cells (U251) demonstrate its potential for practical applications in biological and environmental systems.