A New Thiosemicarbazone-Based Fluorescence 'Turn-on' Sensor for Zn Recognition with a Large Stokes Shift and its Application in Live Cell Imaging.

Selective fluorescence turn on Zn sensor with long-wavelength emission and a large Stokes shift is highly desirable in Zn sensing area. We reported herein the synthesis and Zn recognition properties of a new thiosemicarbazone-based fluorescent sensor L. L displays high selectivity and sensitivity toward Zn over other metal ions in DMSO-HO (1:1, v/v, HEPES 10 mM, pH = 7.4) solution with a long-wavelength emission at 572 nm and a large Stokes shift of 222 nm. Confocal fluorescence microscopy experiments demonstrate that L is cell-permeable and capable of monitoring intracellular Zn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]