A series of N, N’-disubstituted imidazolium salts: 3-(4-cyanobenzyl)-1-((1-(4-cyanobenzyl)pyridin-1-ium-3-yl)methyl)-2-methyl-1H-imidazolium bromide (1a), 3-(naphthalene-2-ylmethyl)-1-((-1-(naphthalene-2-ylmethyl)pyridin-1-ium-3-yl)methyl)-2-methyl-1H-imidazolium bromide (1b), 3-(4-cyanobenzyl)-1-((1-(4-cyanobenzyl)pyridin-1-ium-3-yl)methyl)-2-methyl-1H-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (1c) and 3-(naphthalene-2-ylmethyl)-1-((-1-(naphthalene-2-ylmethyl)pyridin-1-ium-3-yl)methyl)-2-methyl-1H-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (1d) were synthesized in good to excellent yields. The physical and chemical properties of highly water soluble bromide salts (1a and 1b) were modulated by counter anion exchange with PF6 anion (1c and 1d). These probes detect Fe (III) ion over other metal ions such as Na+, K+, Ba2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, Fe3+, Fe2+, Ca2+, Cu2+, Cr3+, Co2+, Al3+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ in aqueous media by fluorescence “turn-off” mechanism. Fluorescence quenching was also observed in the case of Fe2+, Cr3+ and Cu2+ ions to some extent. The emission intensity of probe 1a was quenched by 92% on the subsequent addition of aliquots of Fe3+ ion in pure aqueous media. Job’s plot studies of 1a-Fe3+ complex confirmed the 1:1 stoichiometry. The Stern-Volmer (S-V) plot indicates the static type of quenching mechanism at even low concentrations. The detection limit for 1a was found to be 2.81 × 10−5 M.