An AIE active Y-shaped diimidazolylbenzene: aggregation and disaggregation for Cd2+ and Fe3+ sensing in aqueous solution

Abstract

A simple Y-shaped dimb with AIE properties was designed and synthesized. It showed selective fluorescence turn-on toward Cd²⁺ ion in MeCN–water (2 : 8, v/v) through aggregation, and also selective fluorescence turn-off toward Fe³⁺ ion in MeCN–water (1 : 99, v/v) through disaggregation.