A novel nopinone-based fluorescent probe for colorimetric and ratiometric detection of hypochlorite and its applications in water samples and living cells

Abstract

A novel fluorescent probe (OFN) based on nopinone for the detection of hypochlorite has been developed. The probe OFN exhibited a colorimetric and ratiometric response to hypochlorite with good selectivity, high sensitivity (the low detection limit is 0.136 μM) and fast response time (30 s). In response to ClO⁻, an obvious change was observed in both the fluorescence and absorption spectra, followed by the visible color change from colorless to yellow and the fluorescence color change from yellow to green. The sensing mechanism confirmed that the oxime group of OFN was oxidized to the aldehyde group, which was proved by HRMS and ¹H NMR. What is more, the probe was used not only to detect the concentration of ClO⁻ in water samples but also for monitoring ClO⁻ in living cells.