Synthesis of a new water-soluble highly Fe(III)-selective fluorescent chemosensor based on 4H-quinolizin-4-one

•A novel 4H-quinolizin-4-ona (4b) behaves as selective fluorescent chemosensor.•4b shows high sensitivity/selectivity for sensing of Fe(III) in aqueous conditions.•4b allows an accurate analysis of Fe(III) in the presence of other interfering metal ions.•Evidence is provided on the 4b-Fe(III) complex formed during detection. We describe the design, synthesis and studies of a new Fe(III)-selective fluorescent chemosensor in aqueous media based on a 4H-quinolizin-4-one (4b). This chemosensor exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of Fe(III) in aqueous mixtures in the micromolar concentration range as well as in the presence of other common interfering metal ions, making it a promising tool for the detection of Fe(III) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 13.15 μM in binary solvents DMSO/water, 1:1. Furthermore, this chemoreceptor exhibits a linear and stable fluorescent response over a range of 0 to 12 μM of Fe(III), with high affinity (3.13 × 106 M-2), which allows the quantitative determination of this metal ion. These results allow to envisage potential applications for the detection of Fe(III) in the diagnosis various of ferric-related diseases. [Display omitted]