A simple and effective dansyl acid based “turn-on” fluorescent probe for detecting labile ferrous iron in physiological saline and live cells

Abstract Labile ferrous iron (Fe2+) plays important biochemical functions in many physiologically essential processes. It is very important to find an effective method to detect Fe2+. Herein, a simple and effective Fe2+ fluorescent probe (FeP1) has been constructed via a unique strategy of Fe2+-induced reducing reaction. As expected, FeP1 exhibited a ‘turn-on’ fluorescence response toward Fe2+ over various small analytes, with high selectivity and excellent sensitivity (DL = 18 nM) for the detection of Fe2+ in Tris-DMSO (4:1, pH = 7.4, v/v) solution. Moreover, the probe can act in different real samples, such as physiological saline and living cells.