A chalcone-based highly selective and sensitive chromofluorogenic probe for trivalent metal cations

Abstract

A new chalcone-based probe for the chromofluorogenic sensing of trivalent (Al3+, Fe3+, Cr3+, Ga3+, In3+ and As3+) over mono- and divalent cations and anions is reported. In the presence of trivalent metal cations, the probe was able to display a remarkable color change from yellow to colorless that was clearly visible to the naked eye. Also, the initial strong yellow emission was gradually quenched and substituted by a weakly shifted band.