A highly selective and swift-response AIE-active Schiff base chemosensor for ultra-sensitive detection of Fe(iii) and picric acid: applications in real-world water/drug samples and bioimaging
Abstract
The present study highlights the synthesis and development of a novel Schiff base chemosensor, (E)-4-bromo-2-methoxy-6-(((piperidin-2-ylmethyl)imino) methyl)phenol (HL), which shows aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior in a 2 : 8 DMSO–water medium, confirmed by implementing spectroscopic techniques, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The probe exhibits a significant fluorescence quenching response in the presence of Fe(III) ions and picric acid (trinitrophenol (TNP)), enabling their selective and sensitive detection. Probe–analyte 1 : 1 stoichiometric bindings are confirmed from mass spectrometry and Job plot analyses. Probe–analyte adduct structures are optimized exploiting density functional theory (DFT). The probe demonstrated its practical utility by successfully detecting and quantifying Fe(III) ions in real-world environmental water samples and commercially available pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, cellular imaging studies confirm the probe's biosensing ability, showcasing its potential for applications in biological as well as environmental systems.