A colorimetric and fluorescent merocyanine-based probe for biological thiols

Abstract

A new "dual-mode" chromogenic and fluorescent turn-on probe (2) for the selective sensing of biological thiols is reported. In MeOH-H(2)O cosolvent at physiological pH 7.40 (MeOH-H(2)O = 3:7), biological thiols cleave the 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonyl group to release the chromo- and fluorophore merocyanine (3).