A Near-Infrared Fluorescence Probe for Facile Fluoride Detection in Environmental and Biological Systems

Abstract

Excessive fluoride (F−) exposure poses a threat to environmental and biological ensembles, necessitating rapid and reliable recognition. Here, a near-infrared (NIR) photoluminescent probe, CF−F, is fabricated from a coumarin-benzopyrylium backbone via a fluoride-triggered protection-deprotection protocol. Selective F−-induced Si−O scission releases emissive CF−OH, eliciting a turn-on NIR output at 660 nm. CF−F combines prompt response, superb selectivity, and a low detection threshold of 5.02 nM, succeeding in smartphone-assisted aqueous analyses as well as in vivo imaging in cells and zebrafish.