Quinoline-based fluorescent probe for ratiometric detection of hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution

A novel quinoline-based fluorescent probe for detecting H2O2 is described. In aqueous solution, the probe exhibits fluorescence emission at 542 nm originating from the monocationic species. The reaction between the probe and H2O2 causes quenching of the emission at 542 nm and simultaneously yields a significant hypsochromic shift of the emission maximum to 480 nm due to the H2O2-triggered boronate cleavage process. Thus, a single-excitation, dual-emission ratiometric measurement with a large blue shift in emission (Delta lambda = 62 nm) and remarkable changes in the ratio (F-480 (nm)/F-542 (nm)) Of the emission intensity (R/R-0 up to 8.3-fold) can be established. Moreover, the probe can also afford high selectivity for detecting H2O2 over other biological reactive oxygen species. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.