A simple but effective near-infrared ratiometric fluorescent probe for hydrazine and its application in bioimaging

A simple but effective near-infrared ratiometric fluorescent probe for hydrazine has been developed by a hybrid fluorophore of coumarin and benzopyrylium. The recognition mechanism involving spirocyclic ring-opening and closing toward hydrazine is first reported. The probe showed high selectivity and sensitivity toward hydrazine with lower detection limit (1.5 ppb) under single wavelength excitation. Upon addition of trace amounts of hydrazine, the probe showed a remarkable ratiometric change in the absorption (Delta lambda=167 nm) and emission (Delta lambda=201 nm) spectra and a color change from green to yellow. Furthermore, the probe-loaded TLC plates were made to detect vapor of hydrazine by naked eyes. Moreover, this ratiometric probe was successfully used for the imaging of hydrazine in fetal bovine serum and living cells. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.