Abstract
The pH value plays a significant role in lots of systems such as chemical reactions and biological processes. Herein, two novel two-photon excited fluorescent (2PEF) pH probes abbreviated as L1 and L2, based on the A-π-D-π-A system were facilely synthesized by one-step solid-state reaction at room temperature. Probes L1 and L2 exhibited linear response over the weakly acidic pH range (4.33–6.73 for L1, 2.99–5.28 for L2) and remarkable emission ratio enhancement with the pKa of 5.12 and 3.85, respectively. Interestingly, the position of the nitrogen atom had influence on the pH-dependent single-photon excited fluorescence, two-photon absorption (2 PA) across-section and linear region of pH response in probes L1 and L2. Furthermore, the probes exhibited favorable two-photon absorption, high sensitivity, low cytotoxicity, and capability of mapping intracellular pH distribution. Therefore, probes L1 and L2 could act as practical tool for the sensitively detection of pH in weakly acidic conditions and tracking pH difference in living cells via two-photon fluorescence imaging.
Published Version
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