A turn-on fluorescent probe containing a β-ketoester moiety for the selective detection of intracellular hydrazine.

Fluorogenic probes containing the β-ketoester structure were developed for selective hydrazine detection. The probe equipped with a cyclopropane moiety, having reduced steric hindrance, showed a higher reaction rate than its dimethyl counterpart. In live cell imaging, the probe detects intracellular hydrazine with minimal cytotoxicity. This study introduces a promising tool for hydrazine detection that may assist in reducing the risks associated with hydrazine exposure in various applications.