A novel strategy to selectively detect Fe(III) in aqueous media driven by hydrolysis of a rhodamine 6G Schiff base.

A rhodamine-based probe (FS1) was synthesized and its fluorescence properties and application to an iron-overloaded cell line demonstrated. FS1 underwent fluorogenic changes by the Fe(3+)-catalyzed reaction, even in the presence of other metal cations in vitro. Chemodosimeter FS1 demonstrated selective and sensitive detection of intracellular Fe(3+) in hepatocytes.