Near-infrared fluorescent turn-on probe for hydrazine detection: environmental samples and live cell imaging

Abstract

An acetoxy naphthaldehyde conjugated benzophenoxazinium chloride chromophore-based-donor–π–acceptor (D–π–A) fluorescent probe BPN (benzophenoxazinium naphthoxy imine) displaying near-infrared (NIR) emission was reported for hydrazine detection. The chosen water-soluble benzophenoxazinium chloride chromophore has excellent photostability, a high molar extinction coefficient and fluorescence quantum yield (Φ = from 0.0075 to 0.6193), higher selectivity towards hydrazine and a longer fluorescence lifetime. In the presence of hydrazine, BPN exhibits near infrared fluorescence emission at 725 nm along with color change from light blue to red, as detected by the naked eye. Moreover, the BPN probe can selectively detect hydrazine (DL = 4.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ M) in a 90% aqueous DMSO solution without interfering with other analytes. As proof of real samples, the probe is successfully applied to sense hydrazine in thin layer chromatography (TLC) paper strips (both solution and vapor phases) and water and soil samples, suggesting its significant potential application. Also, due to its NIR emission and aqueous solubility, the BPN probe can be successfully used in live cell imaging with low cytotoxicity.