A turn-on fluorescent probe for detection of hydrogen sulfide in aqueous solution and living cells

Abstract

We report the design and synthesis of a turn-on fluorescence probe FD-NO₂ for H₂S, utilizing H₂S selective reduction of the nitro group. FD-NO₂ displays good water solubility, negligible background fluorescence, high sensitivity, and high selectivity for H₂S over other anions, reactive sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen species. Further confocal imaging experiments demonstrate that FD-NO₂ is capable of detecting H₂S in living cells.