A zero-background fluorescent probe for Hg2+ designed via the “covalent-assembly” principle

Abstract

We herein report a novel fluorescent probe for Hg²⁺ based on the deprotection of 1,3-dithiolane, via the covalent assembly principle. Presence of Hg²⁺ triggers a cascade, which ultimately furnishes the push–pull backbone of a fluorescent dye, rendering a turn-on signal from a zero background and hence high detection sensitivity.