A simple camphor based AIE fluorescent probe for highly specific and sensitive detection of hydrazine and its application in living cells

In this work, a novel fluorescent probe CDA, which was synthesized via a facile derivatization from natural and renewable camphor, exhibited aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics in mixed aqueous media. The fluorescent aggregates showed an obviously enhanced fluorescence response toward N₂H₄. The response time of CDA aggregates for detecting N₂H₄ was within 20 s, and the detection limit was 2.26 ppb, which was far lower than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard (10 ppb). Moreover, probe CDA was also applied to detect gaseous and aqueous N₂H₄. Additionally, the cell imaging experiments demonstrated that probe CDA could be employed to visualize N₂H₄ in living organisms.