A single chemosensor for multiple analytes: fluorogenic detection of Zn2+ and OAc− ions in aqueous solution, and an application to bioimaging

Abstract

A new highly selective and sensitive chemosensor 1 for both Zn²⁺ and OAc⁻ with off–on fluorescence behavior in aqueous solution was developed. The selectivity mechanism of 1 for zinc is based on a combinational effect of the inhibition of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer and CN isomerization, and chelation-enhanced fluorescence. As a practical application, in vitro studies with fibroblasts showed fluorescence in the presence of both the receptor 1 and Zn²⁺. Moreover, the deprotonated 1 can behave as a chemosensing system for turn-on detection of OAc⁻ in preference over various other anions tested. Therefore, 1 can serve as ‘one sensor for multiple analytes’.