A novel fluorescent probe for cascade detection of hydrogen sulfide and hypochlorous acid and its application in bioimaging.

Herein we developed a cascade detection mode for the detection of HS− and ClO− by the novel probe NM-Cl bearing a conjugating naphthalene-dicyanoisophorone unit. The probe displayed sensitive and remarkable fluorescent enhancement in response to HS−, but not to other analytes. The mixture of probe and HS− constructed a specific sensing system for ClO− by fluorescent quenching response. The mechanism studies indicated that the successive reacting of HS− substitution Cl atom in probe and then addition of ClO− facilitation a thiofuran ring-forming induced differentiated fluorescence emission. This study provides a novel mechanism for the detection of HS− and ClO−, the imaging of cell and living animal further indicating the good application prospects of the probe in biosensing and bioimaging. A highly specific and visible method for cascade detection HS− and ClO−. The substitution reaction of the Cl atom by SH group facilitates sensitive detection toward HS−. The responsiveness to ClO− is based on the thiofuran ring-forming reaction, which providing a brand-new mechanism for sensing ClO−. This cell and living animal imaging indicating the good application prospects of these probes in biosensing and bioimaging. [Display omitted] • A novel fluorescent probe for cascade detection of HS− and ClO− was developed. • The responsiveness to ClO− is based on the thiofuran ring-forming reaction, which provides a band-new mechanism for sensing ClO−. • The application of the probe in living cells and mice imaging reveal its potential for HS− and ClO− sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]