Fast responding and selective near-IR Bodipy dye for hydrogen sulfide sensing

Abstract

A Bodipy based, highly selective probe for hydrogen sulfide has been designed, synthesized and demonstrated to detect H₂S in living cells. In this design, the reduction of two arylazido groups change the charge transfer characteristics of the 3,5-distyryl substituents on the Bodipy core, producing a 20 nm bathochromic spectral shift in the absorption band, and quenching of the emission by 85% compared to the original intensity, through photoinduced electron transfer.