A turn-on fluorescent chemodosimeter based on detelluration for detecting ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) in living cells

Qu, Zongjin; Li, Peng; Zhang, Xuexiang; Han, Ke-Li

A turn-on fluorescent chemodosimeter based on detelluration for detecting ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) in living cells

2016

Qu, Zongjin | Li, Peng | Zhang, Xuexiang | Han, Ke-Li

A turn-on fluorescent probe for the detection of Fe²⁺ is facilely synthesized via a nucleophile substitution reaction. The fluorescent probe, N-butyl-4-phenyltellanyl-1,8-naphthalimide (Naph-Te), shows excellent selectivity to Fe²⁺ in a mixed solution of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer under aerobic conditions. The coexistence of biological abundant metal ions such as Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ has little effect on the fluorescence signal. This turn-on response is achieved via a redox-involved reaction triggered by Fe²⁺ at neutral pH and room temperature, which removes the heavy-atom effect of the tellurium atom on the naphthalimide fluorophore to afford a fluorescent product (N-butyl-4-hydroxyl-1,8-naphthalimide). The probe has excellent cell membrane permeability and is further applied successfully to monitor supplementary Fe²⁺ in live HL-7702 cells using a laser confocal fluorescence microscope.

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