A highly selective ratiometric fluorescent probe for the cascade detection of Zn2+ and H₂PO₄? and its application in living cell imaging

摘要

A simple ratiometric sensor (L₁) for the cascade detection of Zn2+ and H₂PO₄? with high selectivity was reported based on the intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. This new sensor could distinguish Zn2+ from Cd2+, and features high fluorescence quantum yield with L₁ (0.45) and L₁–Zn2+ (0.27). There is a good linear relationship between the fluorescence ratio I_{525 nm}/I_{430 nm} upon addition of Zn2+ and the limit of detection (LOD) was evaluated to be 41.0 nM. Furthermore, the in situ prepared L₁–Zn2+ complex also displayed good selectivity and ratiometric response for H₂PO₄? and the detection limit of L₁–Zn2+ was found to be 49.0 nM. L₁ exhibits permeability and can been applied to the detection of intracellular Zn2+ and H₂PO₄? in HepG-2 cells.