AIE-active Schiff base compounds as fluorescent probe for the highly sensitive and selective detection of Al3+ ions

A novel fluorescent probe tetrastyrene derivative (L) with aggregation induced emission (AIE) and high quantum yields prosperities is synthesized by a simple method. The optical properties of probe L to Al3+ are investigated using fluorescence emission spectral analysis and a low detection limit of 1.587 × 10−7 M for Al3+ in MeOH/H2O (v/v = 9/1, Tris = 20 mM, pH = 7.40) is obtained. The combination ratio of L to Al3+ (1:1) is determined by ESI-MS and Job's plot. Meanwhile, probe L has a good response to Al3+ in a wide pH range of 2–12. More importantly, the probe L shows very low cytotoxicity and strong fluorescence emission in living cells. This indicates that the probe L has potential application prospects in the detection of Al3+ in environmental and biological systems.