Naphthalimide based fluorescent sensor for Zn2+ with high selectivity and sensitivity and its imaging in living cells

• Published in: Inorganic chemistry communications 2020-03, Vol.113, p.107798, Article 107798
• Main Authors: Liu, Daying, Zhang, Mingyang, Fang, Siyu, Shi, Jun, Zhang, Jingjing, Yin, Lihui, Yang, Guangming, Zhu, Hualing, He, Huarui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fluorescent Sensor; Iminoethoxyacetic Acid; Naphthalimide; PET; Zinc
• ISSN: 1387-7003; 1879-0259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.inoche.2020.107798

[Display omitted] •A new fluorescent sensor with mono chain as receptor was synthesized.•It demonstrates high selectivity and sensitivity for sensing Zn2+.•DFT calculations shows Zn2+ is formed the distorted four-coordination geometry.•It was applied successfully to detect Zn2+ in aqueous solution and living cells. A novel 4-amino-1, 8-naphthalimide-based fluorescent sensor, with mono iminoethoxyacetic acid as receptor, was developed. It was applied successfully to detect Zn2+ in living cells. Under physiological pH conditions, it demonstrates high selectivity and sensitivity for sensing Zn2+ with about 5-fold enhancement in aqueous solution, with a characteristic emission band of 4-amino-1, 8-naphthalimide with a green color centered at 550 nm. DFT calculations shows Zn2+ is coordinated by the N and O atoms of the iminoethoxyacetic acid arms and methoxy group to form the distorted four-coordination geometry.