Fluorescent imaging of Au3+ in living cells with two new high selective Au3+ probes

Two new acetylenic compounds were designed and synthesized as the probes to realize the detection and recognition of Au3+. The latent fluorophores was rearranged into the fluorescent coumarin derivatives with strong fluorescence by a gold ion-mediated hydroarylation reaction. In the meanwhile, the generated fluorescent substances were also isolated and characterized. The probes identified Au3+ ions highly selectively over other biologically relevant metal ions, and detection concentration of Au3+ was as low as 0.1 mu M or less. Fluorescent imaging of Au3+ in living cells was also successfully demonstrated. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.