A highly selective fluorescent probe for fast detection of hydrogen sulfide in aqueous solution and living cells.

Zheng Xu, Lin Xu, Ji Zhou, Yufang Xu, Weiping Zhu, Xuhong Qian

Index: Chem. Commun. (Camb.) 48(88) , 10871-3, (2012)

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Abstract

A new ratiometric fluorescence probe E1 based on an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism for detection of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is reported. E1 responds to H(2)S quickly and showed a 30-fold fluorescence enhancement in 2 minutes. Moreover, E1 can detect H(2)S quantitatively with a detection limit as low as 0.12 μM in aqueous solution. Its potential for biological applications was confirmed by employing it for fluorescence imaging of H(2)S in living cells.