A novel chemiluminescent probe for hydrazine detection in water and HeLa cells

Hydrazine is a substance harmful to humans and the environment, necessitating the development of a sensitive and specific detection method. Herein, a novel chemiluminescent probe based on Schaap's adamantylidene-dioxetane (CL-HZ) for detecting hydrazine was synthesized and evaluated. The probe was activated by the removal of a protecting group to form free phenoxy-dioxetane, when treated with hydrazine. It then showed a noticeable and sustainable fluorescent response without excitation, with intensity increasing 51-fold in the presence of hydrazine. CL-HZ can be used in 96-well high-throughput assays for analysis of hydrazine in polluted water samples and was successfully applied for the detection of hydrazine in living cells.