A new coumarin-based fluorescent probe for selective recognition of Cu2+ and S2− in aqueous solution and living cells

• Published in: Tetrahedron 2019-07, Vol.75 (30), p.3951-3957
• Main Authors: Liu, Zhen, Liu, Linjing, Li, Jiulong, Qin, Yuanyuan, Zhao, Chenyang, Mi, Yang, Li, Guoping, Li, Tiesheng, Wu, Yangjie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioimaging; Copper ion; Fluorescent probe; Reversible; Sulfide
• ISSN: 0040-4020; 1464-5416
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2019.05.057

A new coumarin-based fluorescent probe CMOH was easily synthesized for detection of Cu2+ and S2− in aqueous media and living cells. CMOH displayed high sensitivity (detection limit = 3.2 nM) and selectivity to Cu2+ with a non-fluorescence complex CMOH-Cu2+ formation via a 1:1 binding mode. According to displacement approach, the fluorescence of CMOH-Cu2+ was recovered in the presence of S2− and acted as a sensitive sensor with a low detection limit of 11.4 nM. This ‘‘on-off-on’’ process can be accomplished within 1 min and repeated at least 5 times. What's more, CMOH exhibited good permeability, low cytotoxicity and can be used as a suitable tool to detect changes of Cu2+ and S2− in biosystem. A novel coumarin-based fluorescent probe for detection of Cu2+ and S2- in aqueous media and living cells. [Display omitted] •A new coumarin-based fluorescent probe CMOH for sequential detection of copper ion and sulfide.•The probe displayed high sensitivity, selectivity, good water-solubility, short response time and reversible detection.•The DFT calculation and 1H NMR analysis also performed to further investigate the sensing mechanism.•The probe CMOH can be a suitable tool for sequential investigation of Cu2+ and S2- in living cells with low cytotoxicity.