Abstract: | In the present work, a novel 5‐methyl‐thiophene‐carbaldehyde‐functionalized rhodamine 6G Schiff base (RA) was designed and easily prepared as an Al3+ fluorescent and colorimetric probe, which could selectively and sensitively detect Al3+ by showing enhanced fluorescence emission. Meanwhile distinct color variation from colorless to pink also provided ‘naked eye’ detection of Al3+, due to the ring spirolactam opening of the rhodamine derivative. Other metal ions (including K+, Mg2+, Na+, Ba2+, Mn2+, Cd2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Hg2+, Co2+, Li+, Sr2+ and Cu2+) could only induce limited interference. The detection limit of the fluorescent probe was estimated to be 4.17 × 10?6 M, the binding constant of the RA–Al3+ complex was 1.4 × 106 M?1. Moreover, this fluorescent probe RA possessed high reversibility. As aluminum is a ubiquitous metal in nature and plays vital roles in many biological processes, this chemosensor could be explored for biological study applications. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |