Development of a fused imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine based fluorescent probe for Fe(3+) and Hg(2+) in aqueous media and HeLa cells

A new fluorescent sensor 5 based on a fused imidazopyridine scaffold has been designed and synthesized via cascade cyclization. The reaction features the formation of three different C–N bonds in sequence. Imidazopyridine based fluorescent probe 5 exhibits highly sensitive and selective fluorescent sensing for Fe(3+)(‘turn-on’) and Hg(2+)(‘turn-off’). The excellent selectivity of imidazopyridine for Fe(3+)/Hg(2+) was not hampered in the presence of any of the competing cations. The limit of detection (LOD) of 5 toward Fe(3+) and Hg(2+) has been estimated to be 4.0 ppb and 1.0 ppb, respectively, with a good linear relationship (R(2) = 0.99). Notably, 5 selectively detects Fe(3+)/Hg(2+) through fluorescence enhancement signalling both in vitro and in HeLa cells.