Switchable and selective detection of Zn~(2+) or Cd~(2+) in living cells based on 3'-O-substituted arrangement of benzoxazole-derived fluorescent probes

摘要

Two benzoxazole-derived ESIPT fluorescent sensors E1 and E2 show highly selective detection of Zn~(2+) and Cd~(2+), respectively, in aqueous solution and living cells. The selectivity switching from Zn~(2+) to Cd~(2+) is attributed to the different binding mode which is dependent on the 3'-O-substituted arrangement.