A novel rhodol-based fluorescence turn-on probe for selective hydrogen sulfide detection in environment water and living cells

Abstract

In this work, a reaction-based fluorescence turn-on probe RCHO, a rhodol derivate anchored with the 2,4-dinitrophenyl moiety, was designed and synthesized for H2S detection. The 2,4-dinitrophenyl moiety, as an electron-withdrawing group, was used for quenching the fluorescence of the fluorophore. The probe RCHO could quantitively detect H2S with high selectivity and fast response by introducing aldehyde groups in the ortho position of 2,4-dinitrobenzene. After addition of H2S, H2S was quickly added to the aldehyde group through a nucleophilic addition reaction, and then the dinitrophenyl ether underwent effective intramolecular thiolysis, which resulting in the release of the fluorophore and a rapid fluorescence turn-on response. The detect limit was calculated to be 0.097 μM. Furthermore, in the presence of H2S, a remarkable color change from colorless to pink was observed, indicating that the probe RCHO could monitor H2S by the naked eyes. More importantly, the probe could be used as a highly efficient tool for H2S detection in living cells and environmental water.