Abstract
A new Schiff-base fluorescence probe CS containing benzimidazole and coumarin fluorophores was synthesized and characterized by NMR, IR and ESI-MS. Fluorescence and absorption spectra show the unique changes in the presence of Hg2+ and Cu2+. Hg2+ induces a remarkable fluorescence enhancement and results in mercury-promoted hydrolysis of a mercury-CS complex to convert the imine group to the aldehyde group. Cu2+ leads to a colorimetric change from colorless to pale yellow and causes formation of a copper-CS complex. Thus, CS can act as a fluorescent chemodosimeter for Hg2+ and a naked-eye chemosensor Cu2+. The cell imaging experiments for Hg2+ show a slow enhancement of a bright blue fluorescence with increasing incubation time, while Cu2+ instantly quenches the fluorescence and then the fluorescence intensity has no further change by extending the incubation time. Therefore, the probe CS shows its potential application for simultaneous differential detection of Hg2+ and Cu2+ in living cells based on the fluorescence response time.
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