Selective detection of Fe(III) ions in aqueous solution with a 1,8-diacridylnaphthalene-derived fluorosensor

The syn-isomer of 1,8-bis(4,4′-diisopropyl-9,9′-diacridyl)naphthalene, 1, has been prepared by two consecutive Pd(PPh3)4-catalyzed Stille cross-coupling steps. This highly congested sensor undergoes Fe(III)-selective fluorescence quenching in water/acetonitrile even in the presence of excess of other metal ions.