Fluorescence turn-on detection of Cu2+ in water samples and living cells based on the unprecedented copper-mediated dihydrorosamine oxidation reaction

A fluorescence turn-on probe for Cu2+ based on the novel copper-mediated dihydrorosamine oxidation reaction has been constructed and employed in the detection of Cu2+ in water, new born calf serum, and living cells, and the new copper-mediated dihydrorosamine oxidation reaction likely proceeds by a copper redox mechanism.