Highly selective fluorescence off–on probes for biothiols and imaging in live cells

Abstract

Three sulfonyl benzothiazole-based fluorescent probes (RSHP1, RSHP2, and RSHP3) for the detection of biothiols (cysteine, homocysteine, and glutathione) are developed based on thiol-mediated nucleophilic aromatic substitutions. The probes exhibited good selectivity and sensitivity toward biothiols over other analytes. The probes were successfully applied for visualizing endogenous thiols in living cells.