A selective fluorescence probe for H2S from biothiols with a significant regioselective turn-on response and its application for H2S detection in living cells and in living Caenorhabditis elegans

A selective probe with a significant regioselective turn-on response, CP-1, has been developed for detection of H2S from biothiols. CP-1 features superb selectivity to H2S, a wide pH range and low cytotoxicity. CP-1 has over 10000-fold selectivity for H2S from biothiols such as GSH. With the actual detected concentration low to 50 nM, CP-1 could provide a set of sectionalized linear standard curves to cover a 0 to 275 mu M detecting range accurately. NMR and HRMS spectra confirmed that the detection process was a regioselective reaction. Furthermore, mono-protected compound FL-1 has been synthesized and tested for Na2S and biothiols. All test results demonstrate that the detection can only occur in one side of CP-1. With high sensitivity and selectivity, CP-1 could be further used in rat urine samples system. Moreover, CP-1 has been applied in the imaging of exogenous and endogenous H2S in living cells and in living Caenorhabditis elegans.