Unexpected selectivity of a thioacetal-functionalized carbazole fluorophore toward Fe3+ions in solution
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY, vol.363, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 363
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1016/j.saa.2026.128446
- Journal Name: SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, EMBASE, INSPEC, MEDLINE, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO)
- Keywords: Carbazole, Detection of Fe3+ ions, Fluorescence sensor, Synthesis, Thioacetal
- Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
A novel thioacetal-containing carbazole-based fluorescent sensor, 3-(5-(1,3-dithiolane-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl)-9-hex-ylcarbazole (probe F), was synthesized for the first time and exhibited remarkable and unexpected selectivity toward Fe3+ ions. Probe F showed a detection limit of 0.9 nM and retained its selectivity in the presence of competing analytes. Job's plot revealed a 1:1 binding stoichiometry, while HRMS and DFT studies indicated that both Fe-N and Fe-S coordination modes are feasible, with sulphur coordination being thermodynamically favoured under the experimental conditions. Practical application studies with satisfactory recovery values demonstrated the potential of probe F for Fe3+ detection.