A novel 'turn-on' coumarin-based fluorescence probe with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) for sensitive detection of hydrazine and its imaging in living cells

An aggregation-induced emission (AIE)- and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT)-based probe 1 (7‑hydroxy‑3‑(3‑methyl‑isoxazol‑5‑yl)‑chromen‑2‑one) that is highly selective for N2H4 has been synthesized, exhibiting a ‘turn-on’ response toward N2H4 in CH3CN/H2O solution. The detection limit of the probe was 2.90 ppb, which was evidently lower than the threshold limit value (10 ppb) recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. Notably, the sensor could be used for the detection of N2H4 in living cells.