A naphthalimide based PET probe with Fe3+ selective detection ability: theoretical and experimental studyElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental procedure for the synthesis of 1, 1H/13C NMR, ESI-HRMS spectra of 1, theoretical calculations, TCSPC analysis, job plot, ESI-MS spectra of 1-Fe3+ complex, binding constant and detection limit calculations, reversibility of 1-Fe3+ complex, effect of pH on 1-Fe3+ complex, cell viability assay and metal ion competitive experiment

A naphthalimide based fluorescent probe ' 1 ' that operates based on photoinduced electron transfer phenomenon is synthesized and its chemosensory application is explored. Among various metal ions, 1 selectively detects Fe 3+ with a detection limit of 3.0 × 10 −8 M. 1 is stable at physiological pH, nontoxic under experimental conditions and suitable for the detection of Fe 3+ ions present in aqueous samples and live cells. A naphthalimide based Fe 3+ selective fluorescence 'turn-on' probe that operates based on a PET mechanism has been synthesized, and its application in the detection of Fe 3+ ions in aqueous samples and in live cells is explored.