Ultrasound-assisted synthesis and photophysical investigation of a heterocyclic alkylated chalcone: a sensitive and selective fluorescent chemosensor for Fe³⁺ in aqueous media

Alkylated pyridine chalcone (AIPO) has been synthesized by reaction of 1-allyl-1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde with 2-acetyl pyridine. The chalcone structure was characterized by spectral and elemental analysis. The absorption and emission in ten solvents with different polarities were used to calculate the photophysical parameters for this compound. This heterocyclic fluorescent compound serves as a selective probe for recognition of Fe3+. A 1:1 bonding stoichiometry between AIPO and Fe3+ has been detected by Benesi–Hildebrand, Stern–Volmer and Job-plot methods. The binding stoichiometric ratio was further confirmed by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations.