2,2'-Bisbenzimidazole derivative (L) was designed as a fluorescent chemosensor for Fe 3+ . This structurally simple chemosensor displays significant fluorescence quenching with increasing concentrations of Fe 3+ . L exhibited high selectivity and antidisturbance for Fe 3+ among environmentally relevant metal ions in aqueous media. The method of Job's plot indicated the formation of 1∶2 complex between L and Fe 3+ , and the possible binding mode of the system was also proposed. In addition, further study demonstrates the detection limit on fluorescence response of the sensor to Fe 3+ is down to 10 −7 mol•L −1 range. The binding mode was investigated by fluorescence spectra, ESI-MS, IR data, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR and crystal data.