Herein, a novel strategy was proposed for identifying carbon monoxide (CO), which plays a crucial part in living systems. For the first time, we have managed to design, synthesize, and characterize successfully this new Cu2+-assisted fluorescent probe (DPHP) in detecting CO. Compared with the commonly adopted Pd0-mediated Tsuji–Trost reaction recognition method, such a new strategy did not engage costly palladium (II) salt and generated no leaving group, indicating a satisfactory anti-interference ability. The recognition mechanism was confirmed by IR, 1H NMR titration, HR-MS, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, and optical properties. Surprisingly, it was found that the new method achieved high selectivity and rapid identification of CO with a lower limit of detection (1.7 × 10–8 M). More intriguingly, it could recognize endogenous and exogenous CO in HeLa cells. The cytotoxicity of this new method was so low that it allowed the detection of CO in mice and zebrafish. Basically, our results trigger a novel viewpoint of rationally designing and synthesizing advanced materials for CO detection with unique features, impelling new research in detection chemistry.

Fluorescent probes for detection of CN − still have many limitations, such as small Stokes shift, irreversible, and background interference, which hamper their applications for on-site detection and bioimaging of CN − . In this work, we design a new CN − -activatable fluorescent probe (named AHMM) containing an ESIPT (excited-state intramolecular proton transfer) and hydrogen bond features, which show a large Stokes shift (225 nm) and molecular structural reversible detection. The probe AHMM exhibits an excellent selectivity for CN − without any interference from other anions in aqueous DMSO system. Furthermore, the mechanism of the interaction of AHMM with CN − is concluded by various experiments. The limit of detection of AHMM for CN − is calculated as low as 4.47 × 10 −8 M, lower than the concentration of CN − deemed acceptable by WHO (World Health Organization). AHMM can recognize CN − in tap water quantitatively and on-site by a smartphone APP. Moreover, food samples such as almond and cassava including CN − are visualized by fluorescence imaging. In addition, the probe shows practical applications of CN − imaging in cells and mice. This concept can be applied for designing multifunctional fluorescent probes with ESIPT and reversible characteristics for detection of CN − .

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In this paper, the novel uorescence probe XP based on Schiff-base was designed, synthesized and characterized, which could detect Y 3+ selectively and sensitively. The recognition mechanism of XP toward Y 3+ was studied by Job's plot and HRMS. It was investigated that stoichiometric ratio of the probe XP conjugated with Y 3+ was 1:2. And the detection limit was calculated as 0.30 µM. In addition, Y 3+ was recognized by the test paper made from XP. And the probe XP could selectivity toward Y 3+ in Caenorhabditis elegans and the main organs of mice. Thus, XP was considered to have some potential for application in bioimaging.

In this paper, the novel fluorescence probe XP based on Schiff-base was designed, synthesized and characterized, which could detect Y3+selectively and sensitively. The recognition mechanism of XP toward Y3+ was studied by Job's plot and HRMS. It was investigated that stoichiometric ratio of the probe XP conjugated with Y3+ was 1:2. And the detection limit was calculated as 0.30 µM. In addition, Y3+ was recognized by the test paper made from XP. And the probe XP could selectivity toward Y3+ in Caenorhabditis elegans and the main organs of mice. Thus, XP was considered to have some potential for application in bioimaging.