A ratiometric and colorimetric fluorescent probe for the detection of mercury ion based on rhodamine and quinoline–benzothiazole conjugated dyad

• Published in: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. A, Chemistry. Chemistry., 2020-09, Vol.400, p.112657, Article 112657
• Main Authors: Zhu, Zifan, Ding, Haichang, Wang, Yuesong, Fan, Congbin, Tu, Yayi, Liu, Gang, Pu, Shouzhi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cell imaging; Fluorescent probe; Hg2; Ratiometric
• ISSN: 1010-6030; 1873-2666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2020.112657

[Display omitted] •A colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe for highly selective recognition of Hg2+ was synthesized.•The probe could detect Hg2+ in living cells.•The emission peak red shifted 109 nm upon addition of Hg2+. Although fluorescent probes had become powerful tools to detect and image mercury ion (Hg2+), most of them suffered from a single signal change. Therefore, a new ratiometric fluorescent probe 1, with a quinoline–benzothiazole group as donor and a rhodamine as acceptor, was constructed for Hg2+ detection in this paper study. Results showed that Probe 1 was highly sensitive and selective to Hg2+, with a linear range of 0–26 μM and a detection limit (LOD) of 0.2 μM. Moreover, with excess competitive metal ions in DMF–H2O (v/v, 7/3), probe 1 exhibited excellent colorimetric selectivity and sensitivity to Hg2+ with the significant color change from colorless to pink with a linear range 0–28 μM and a LOD of 0.37 μM, because Hg2+ promoted the rhodamine hydrazide opening. And probe 1 finally was used to detect Hg2+ in living cells.