A highly sensitive nucleic acid stain based on amino-modified tetraphenylethene: the influence of configuration

We designed and synthesized a new amino-functionalized tetraphenylethene (TPE) derivative as a highly sensitive dye for the detection of dsDNA and oligonucleotide in both solution and a gel matrix. We further revealed that the cis configuration dye showed a much higher sensitivity than its trans isomer for the first time.