A new reaction-based sensor (AHS) was synthesized for quantitative detection of H2S. AHS showed a high selectivity and sensitivity toward H2S over other thio-containing molecules, or reducing reagents with high abundance in living cells. In the presence of H2S, significant fluorescence enhancement (17-fold) was observed due to the reduction of the azide on AHS. The absorption (362 nm) and fluorescence emission (557 nm) of reduced AHS showed a highly linear correlation to H2S level, which were used to measure concentration of H2S in the range of 0–100 μM.
