A Colorimetric and Fluorescent Chemosensor of Fe3+ Based on an Asymmetrical Squarylium Dye

Abstract

A novel asymmetrical squarylium-dye-based dual signaling probe was synthesized and found to exhibit colorimetric and fluorescent properties on selective binding towards Fe3+ in ethanol/water (4:1, v/v) solution. The binding constant was determined to be 7.69 × 102 M–1, and the detection limit of SQ was 9.158 × 10–6 M. Most importantly, the 1:2 stoichiometry of the host-guest complexation was confirmed by Job’s method. Moreover, the high sensing ability of the receptor towards Fe3+ was also investigated by the electrochemical technique.