A benzimidazole-based single molecular multianalyte fluorescent probe for the simultaneous analysis of Cu2+ and Fe3+

We synthesized a novel receptor with benzimidazole moieties in a tripodal framework. The receptor displays rarely observed metal specific fluorescence enhancement at two different wavelengths. The receptor was investigated for the simultaneous analysis of Cu2+ and Fe3+ and successfully quantified the ions without interference over a wide concentration range. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.