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A Reaction-Based ESIPT Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of Hg2+ with Large Stokes Shift

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Abstract

A novel reaction-based fluorescent probe 1 for Hg2+ was designed and synthesized. 1 was almost nonfluoresent due to inhibition of the ESIPT process between hydroxy group and imid carbonyl oxygen by diphenylphosphinothioate group. After reacting with Hg2+, the fluorescence intensity of 1 exhibited significant enhancement owing to recovery of the ESIPT process via Hg2+-promoted desulfurization-hydrolysis of the diphenylphosphinothioate moiety and cleavage of the P-O bond. 1 not only showed rapid response, high sensitivity, excellent selectivity for Hg2+ over other metal ions, but also could detect Hg2+ with large Stokes shift (165 nm), which was attributed to the ESIPT process. Moreover, the reaction mechanism was fully validated by absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, fluorescence color as well as ESI–MS analysis.

Graphical Abstract

1 is the reaction-based ESIPT fluorescent probe for the detection of Hg2+ with large Stokes shift, rapid response, high sensitivity and selectivity.

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The data generated and analyzed will be made available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi.

Funding

The work was supported by funding from the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi (2021GXNSFBA220038, 2019GXNSFDA185003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Health Care Food Science and Technology, College of Food and Bioengineering, Hezhou University, Hezhou, 542899, People’s Republic of China

    Dongjian Zhu, Wenqin Yao & Aishan Ren

  2. College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, 545005, People’s Republic of China

    Wenqin Yao

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  1. Dongjian Zhu
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  2. Wenqin Yao
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  3. Aishan Ren
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Contributions

D.Z. designed the experiments and wrote the manuscript. W.Y. synthesized and purified the compounds as well as performed the characterization experiments. A.R. created the figures, carried out the theoretical calculations and characterization experiments.

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Correspondence to Aishan Ren.

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Highlights

• A reaction-based ESIPT fluorescent probe 1 for Hg2+ was developed.

• 1 exhibited rapid response, high sensitivity, excellent selectivity.

• 1 could detect Hg2+ with large Stokes shift.

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Supplementary file1 (DOCX 696 KB)

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Zhu, D., Yao, W. & Ren, A. A Reaction-Based ESIPT Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of Hg2+ with Large Stokes Shift. J Fluoresc (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-023-03508-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-023-03508-5

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