A near infrared fluorescent probe for detection and bioimaging of zinc ions and hypochlorous acid.

It is of great significance to monitor zinc ions (Zn) and hypochlorous acid (HClO) conveniently in disease diagnosis and environmental protection. Herein, we successfully prepared a near-infrared fluorescent probe based on dicyanoisophorone derivative and methyl hydrazate by Schiff base reaction for effective detection of Zn and HClO. After binding with Zn at a molar ratio of 1:1, the fluorescence intensity (λ = 482 nm, λ = 653 nm) of the probe was significantly enhanced, thus achieving quantitative detection and optical cell imaging of Zn. The complexation constant (K) of the probe with Zn was 2.34 × 10 M. The response time of the probe for Zn was less than 20 s and the detection limit was 15.3 nM. Moreover, this probe also showed a specific response to HClO. After interacting with HClO, the fluorescence intensity of the probe was increased significantly with a red shift of the emission wavelength from 670 nm to 705 nm (λ = 550 nm). The response time and the detection limit of probe for HClO were 4 min and 1.39 μM, respectively. The probe was successfully applied for visual bioimaging of Zn and HClO inside living cells. The recoveries of Zn and HClO using the probe in actual water samples were satisfactory.