The ESIPT fluorescent probes for N2H4 based on benzothiazol and their applications for gas sensing and bioimaging

Two novel fluorescent chemosensors based on the benzothiazole derivative were designed, synthesized, and used as a selective hydrazine sensor in a DMSO and HEPES buffer mixture (10 mM, pH 7.4)(9:1, v/v). The probes displayed high sensitivity and selectivity of hydrazine after adding more than 18 types of analyte. The application of the probes in detecting N2H4 in living cells and in the gas state was also investigated. The single crystal X-ray study of the fluorescent sensor both before and after treatment with N2H4 confirmed the proposed mechanism based on excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.