A novel HPQ-based turn-on fluorescent probe for detection of fluoride ions in living cells

2-(2'-Hydroxyphenyl)-4(3H)-quinazolinone (HPQ) has been reported as a precipitating fluorescent molecule with excellent optical properties, such as large Stokes shift and strong fluorescence intensity. HPQF, a novel HPQ-based turn-on probe for localizable detection of fluoride ions, was designed, synthesized and fully characterized by H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR and HRMS. As a chemogenic fluoride probe, the tertbutyldiphenylsilane moiety of HPQF can be easily cleaved by fluoride. After spontaneous 1,6-elimination, HPQ molecule was generated to emit fluorescence under the excitation light. Further study shows that HPQF exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity for detection of fluoride. In addition, HPQF was utilized for the detection of fluoride in living cells. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.