A turn-on fluorescent Fe3+ sensor derived from an anthracene-bearing bisdiene macrocycle and its intracellular imaging application

Integrating N-2-hydroxyethyldiethylenetriamine with anthracene gives a [2+2] macrocycle fluorescent sensor. This sensor displays an instant/reversible turn-on response specific to Fe3+, which allows facile visualization of the Fe3+/Fe2+ transition and intracellular Fe3+ imaging.