A coumarin based chemodosimetric probe for ratiometric detection of hydrazine

D-π-A Carbzazole Based Reactive Cyano-Substituted C = C bond Probe for Selective and Sensitive Detection of Hydrazine in Aqueous Media

This work established a newly designed and synthesized carbazole N-phenyl π-conjugated vinyl malononitrile (CPM) fluorescent sensor, which showed typical and remarkable redshift emission properties with different polarity index solvents. Investigative probe CPM is colorimetric and fluorimetric ultrafast and ultrasensitive detection of hazardous hydrazine in an aqueous medium. Furthermore, CPM showed colorimetric and fluorometric responses to interference tests with other amines and high selectivity for detecting hydrazine without interference with other amines in colorimetric and fluorimetric methods. This probe CPM for hydrazine was as low as the lower detection limit value of 2.21 × 10- 8 M. The probe CPM expects significant attention due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness in detecting hazardous hydrazine. UV-vis, PL, NMR, and MS spectra confirmed the mechanism of probe CPM detection of hazardous hydrazine. However, making a piece test kit attractive for practical hydrazine vapor leak-detection applications is easy. This study can be applied to many pipeline gas transmission industries and transportation facility sectors.

Converging optical and electrochemical detection strategies for multimodal hydrazine sensing: insights into substituent-driven diverse response

A pair of pyrene-based chalcogen derivatives have been developed, which demonstrate multimodal ratiometric response towards hydrazine. Although these probes share a common pyrene core and differ primarily in the electronic nature of their terminal side arms, they display distinct photophysical properties. Notably, both probes undergo significant spectral changes upon the addition of hydrazine, but probe 1 exhibits a more pronounced interaction (∼5-fold fluorescence enhancement) than probe 2, attributed to the higher level of aggregation in probe 2, rendering the binding site less accessible to the incoming analyte. Additionally, we have explored electrochemical techniques, including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), for hydrazine detection. Our molecular design strategy relies on ratiometric-responsive specific cyclization triggered by hydrazine, leading to the disruption of the π-conjugated system and the subsequent suppression of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) processes, along with dis-assembly of the aggregated probe molecules. These probes enable the nakеd-eye detection of hydrazine, with a low detection limit of 7.33 ppb and 7.58 ppb for probe 1 and 2, respectively. Furthermore, we have investigated cost-effective probe-coatеd paper strips for the detection of hydrazine in water.

A novel pathway for ratiometric hydrazine sensing in environmental samples and the detection of intracellular viscosity by a mitochondria-targeted fluorescent sensor

Mass and signal transfer, dispersion of reactive metabolites in living cells, and interactions between biomacromolecules are greatly affected by viscosity inside the cells. It is crucial to accurately determine viscosity for reliable results because of the complexities of live cells. Herein, we introduce a new fluorescence probe based on the cyanobiphenyl and benzothiazolium units. This probe not only responds to intracellular viscosity but also detects hydrazine, a widely used chemical that poses significant environmental and toxic risks to organisms. The proposed sensing mechanism provides a new pathway that includes intramolecular cyclization with hydrazine, which differs from other sensing mechanisms. A weak emission (at 590 nm) of the probe under excitation at 365 nm resulted in 25-fold higher emission at 488 nm after the addition of N2H4. The quantum yield of the probe (Φ = 0.089) increased to Φ = 0.199 with the addition of N2H4. In addition, the probe demonstrated 45-fold emission enhancement at 560 nm in viscous media, with a color change from non-fluorescence to yellow fluorescence. Good hydrazine sensing features with high adaptability, selectivity, sensitivity, ratiometric and fast response (90 s), low cytotoxicity (more than 90% of cell viability), low detection limit (86.0 nM), good linearity in the range of 0-35.0 μM, and high signal-to-noise ratio sensing capability were achieved. The hydrazine-sensing capability of the mitochondria-targetable probe in living cells makes it a strong candidate for various biological and environmental applications, including intracellular tracking and imaging. These results suggest that the present probe shows significant potential for the effective fluorescence detection of hydrazine.

Advances in Optical Probes for the Detection of Hydrazine in Environmental and Biological Systems

Hydrazine, as a crucial raw material in the fine chemical industry, plays an indispensable role in fuel, catalyst, pesticide and drug synthesis. Due to its good water solubility and high toxicity, hydrazine can cause irreparable damage to water and soil in the environment, and it can also be released by taking certain drugs, which brings potential risks to human health. Therefore, it is vital to develop a method that can specifically detect hydrazine in the environment and in vivo. As an effective analysis and detection tool, fluorescence probe has attracted extensive attention in recent years. In this review, we summarized and classified hydrazine fluorescence probes based on various reaction mechanisms, and discussed their structures and applications in the past ten years. At least, we briefly outline the challenges and prospects in this field.

A novel fluorescent molecule based on 1,2,3-triazole for determination of palladium (II) and hydrazine hydrate in aqueous system

In recent years, hydrazine hydrate has been widely used in various fields as fuel and chemical raw materials, etc. However, hydrazine hydrate is also a potential threat to living body and natural environment. The effective method is urgently needed to detect hydrazine hydrate in our living environment. Secondly, as a precious metal, palladium has attracted more and more attention because of its excellent properties in industrial manufacturing and chemical catalysis. However, its potential danger is also slowly approaching, so it is necessary to find an excellent way to detect palladium, too. Herein, a fluorescent molecule, 4,4',4'',4'''-(1,4-phenylenebis(2H-1,2,3-triazole-2,4,5-triyl)) tetrabenzoic acid (NAT), was synthesized. Firstly, NAT has very high selectivity and sensitivity for determination of Pd²⁺, because Pd²⁺ can coordinate well with carboxyl oxygen of NAT. The detection performance of Pd²⁺ is that the linear range is from 0.06 to 4.50 μM and the detection limit is 16.4 nM. Furthermore, the chelate (NAT-Pd²⁺) can continue to be used for quantitative determination of hydrazine hydrate with a linear range of 0.05-6.00 μM and the detection limit is 19.1 nM. The interaction time of NAT-Pd²⁺ and hydrazine hydrate is about 10 min. Of course, it also has good selectivity and strong anti-interference ability for many common metal ions, anions and amine like compounds. At last, the ability of NAT to quantitatively detect Pd²⁺ and hydrazine hydrate in actual samples has also been verified and the results are very satisfactory.

A benzothiazole-based dual reaction site fluorescent probe for the selective detection of hydrazine in water and live cells

As hydrazine is an environmental pollutant and highly toxic to living organisms, selective and rapid detection is highly needed for the benefit of living organisms as well as the environment. Here, we first introduced a novel benzothiazole conjugated methyldicyanovinyl coumarin probe BTC, with dual recognition sites for hydrazine detection. The incorporation of the methyldicyanovinyl group into the benzocoumarin fluorophore increased the electrophilicity of the lactone ring of the probe BTC facilitating the nucleophilic attack of hydrazine and rapid (within 1 min, low detection limit = 1.7 nM) turn-on sky blue fluorescence with 700-fold fluorescence intensity enhancement was observed via hydrazine-induced lactone ring-opening followed by selective cleavage of the dicyanovinyl group. According to the literature, dicyanovinyl group assisted lactone ring opening has revealed the possibility of hydrazine recognition with a large Stokes shift (140 nm) and a high fluorescence quantum yield (0.67). Here, the DFT study and practical applications of the probe BTC in different water samples have been presented. The probe BTC was also successfully applied for the detection of hydrazine in the vapor phase using paper strips and in live MDA-MB 231 cells.

An excited state intramolecular proton transfer induced phosphate ion targeted ratiometric fluorescent switch to monitor phosphate ions in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Detection of biological phosphate is very important for environmental and health care applications. In this study, a new ratiometric fluorescent probe (E)-N'-(3-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-2-hydroxybenzylidene) picolinohydrazide (BTP) is developed and exhibits a prominent excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT) mechanism. The probe BTP undergoes a unique phosphate induced hydrolytic reaction in mixed aqueous solution which produces a colorimetric change associated with a huge red-shift of ∼130 nm in the UV-visible absorption spectrum. Initially, BTP exhibits a strong fluorescence emission as the ESIPT process is 'on' and the tautomeric hydrogen remains flexible and is free to give two tautomeric forms. Eventually, after the addition of PO₄^3-, the two tautomeric forms break and thereby shift the equilibrium towards the 'enol' form. The phosphate ion binds with BTP which is associated with a ratiometric change and accounts for an enhancement in the fluorescence intensity with a large blue shift and the limit of detection value of 8.33 × 10^-8 M in a mixed aqueous medium. The binding constant (1.92 × 10⁵ M^-1) proportionally reflects the stability of the complexation between the binding sites of BTP with the guest PO₄^3- anion. The probable mechanism is supported by the NMR spectroscopy studies. The sensing phenomenon is found to be reversible towards Zn²⁺ and thus the sensor beautifully mimics the INHIBIT logic gate. Observations have been made in fluorescence imaging studies with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) which indicates that BTP can be employed to successfully monitor the phosphate ion in human PBMCs.

Sensing for hydrazine of a pyrene chalcone derivative with acryloyl terminal group

Hydrazine, as a toxic substance, seriously endangers human health and the environment. Based on the excellent luminescent properties and low biological toxicity of pyrene derivatives, combing with chalcone derivatives easily attacked by nucleophilic group, a pyrene derivative PCA decorated by acryloyl terminal group as fluorescent probe for hydrazine was developed. The compound shows fluorescent peak red shift and intensity enhancement with increasing solvent polarity from hexane (459 nm) to methanol (561 nm). Based on strong fluorescence emission in methanol, methanol-HEPES mixed solution was used as the solvent in the spectral recognition experiments. The probe exhibits fluorescent change from yellow fluorescence (576 nm) to blue fluorescence (393 nm) with 800-fold ratiometric fluorescence enhancement (I_393nm/I_576nm) after the reaction with hydrazine. The probe can recognize hydrazine in fast response rate with kinetic constant calculated being 2.7 × 10^-3 s^-1 and 15 min as response time. The probe also can monitor hydrazine in real water samples and various soils.

A novel ESIPT fluorescent probe derived from 3-hydroxyphthalimide for hydrazine detection in aqueous solution and living cells

Hydrazine is a highly toxic and flammable liquid that can damage human liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Therefore, it is valuable to seek a quick and sensitive method for hydrazine detection in environmental and biological science. Herein, a new fluorescent probe derived from 3-hydroxyphthalimide was synthesized. This probe can rapidly and selectively detect hydrazine with a low detection limit of 4.3 × 10^-7 M. The recognition principle is based on hydrazine-induced acetyl deprotection and excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. Moreover, test paper and fluorescence image experiments showed that this probe had potential to monitor hydrazine in the environment and living cells.

A highly-sensitive "turn on" probe based on coumarin β-diketone for hydrazine detection in PBS and living cells

Herein, a new "turn on" fluorescent probe C-1 is developed to specifically detect hydrazine using coumarin nucleus as the fluorophore and β-diketone as the recognition group. The probe shows high selectivity towards hydrazine over other common ions and amine-containing species, as well as good water solubility and quantitative detectability of hydrazine in concentration range of 1-200 μM. The detection limit is as low as 1.89 ppb, which is lower than the threshold set by EPA (10 ppb). Probe-coated filter papers are confirmed to detect gaseous hydrazine successfully through obvious fluorescence color changes. In addition, the probe has been verified to detect hydrazine in actual water environment and living cells.

Diethyl Malonate-Based Turn-On Chemical Probe for Detecting Hydrazine and Its Bio-Imaging and Environmental Applications With Large Stokes Shift

Diethyl malonate-based fluorescent probe NE-N₂H₄ was constructed for monitoring hydrazine (N₂H₄). The novel probe NE-N₂H₄ exhibits good properties, such as large Stokes shift (about 125 nm), good selectivity, and low cytotoxicity. This sensing probe NE-N₂H₄ can be operated to detect hydrazine in living HeLa cells. Especially after soaking in probe solution, the thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plate could detect the vapor of hydrazine. Therefore, the probe NE-N₂H₄ might be used to monitor hydrazine in biosamples and environmental problem.

Construction of a mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe for monitoring hydrazine in soil samples and culture cells

Isoniazid and its major metabolite, hydrazine (N₂H₄), may interfere with mitochondrial function and have negative effects on cells. Consequently, an understanding of the role of N₂H₄ in mitochondria is highly desirable for protecting human health. Herein, we report a novel mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe (Mitro-N₂H₄) for N₂H₄ detection. Mitro-N₂H₄ exhibited an attenuation of green emission at 521 nm and an enhancement of yellow emission at 590 nm in the presence of N₂H₄ because of hydrazinolysis, indicating that it can be used as a ratiometric chemosensor for N₂H₄ with high selectivity and sensitivity. Such on-site monitoring of N₂H₄ vapour using test strips and N₂H₄-moistened soil analysis demonstrated its advantages in potential application for the convenient sensing of N₂H₄. Moreover, the rationally designed probe has many potential applications for imaging N₂H₄ produced in situ during the metabolism of isoniazid in living cells based on the ratio of the fluorescent signal.

Cyanine-modified near-infrared upconversion nanoprobe for ratiometric sensing of N2H4 in living cells

Although being as an important chemical material in industry, hydrazine (N₂H₄) is highly toxic to the humans and animals. The development of sensitive methods for the detection of hydrazine is meaningful. Herein, we develop a new organic-inorganic hybrid nanoprobe for the detection of N₂H₄ based on luminescent resonance energy transfer (LRET) process. The nanoprobe contains N₂H₄-responsive NIR cyanine dye (CQM1) and α-cyclodextrin (CD) anchored on the surface of lanthanide-doped upconversion nanophosphors (UCNPs). In the presence of hydrazine, the hybrid materials (CQM1-UCNPs) showed the a large ratiometric luminescent signal change with high sensitivity and selectivity. More importantly, by taking advantage of ratiometric Upconversion luminescent (UCL) signal and the features of NIR emission/excitation, the nanoprobe was successfully applied for visualization of hydrazine in living cells for the first time.

FRET based ratiometric switch for selective sensing of Al3+ with bio-imaging in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

FRET based ratiometric switch for selective sensing of Al³⁺ with bio-imaging in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

A coumarin-fused 'off-on' fluorescent probe for highly selective detection of hydrazine

Hydrazine is a kind of widely used industrial raw material and a toxic biochemical reagent. Due to its toxic to organisms, hydrazine has been classified to be a hazardous environmental pollutant. It is urgent to develop fluorescent probe tools for selective sensitivity detection of hydrazine in the environment and the body. We developed here a new coumarin-based fluorescent probe for hydrazine detection. The probe can selectively detect hydrazine over other environmental and endogenous interfering analytes with a large off-on fluorescence response. The detection limit is 8.55 ppb, which is well below the allowed threshold limit value. The sensing mechanism is hydrazine-induced pyrazole ring formation, which is confirmed by HRMS and DFT calculation methods. Additionally, the probe could also be applied for hydrazine imaging in living HeLa cells.

A sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for hydrazine with a unique nonaromatic fluorophore

To achieve sensitive, selective and facile detection of hydrazine in environmental and biological systems, a fluorescent probe (Che-Dcv) with a unique nonaromatic fluorophore was developed. Upon hydrazine addition in 20% DMSO-PBS buffer (pH = 7.4, 10 mM, v/v) at room temperature, the probe displayed a strong emission at 496 nm along with a color change from brown-red to yellow. The response was attributed to the reaction of dicyanovinyl groups with hydrazine to afford hydrazone, which was supported by 1H NMR and HRMS. The detection limit of Che-Dcv for hydrazine was estimated to be as low as 1.08 ppb and good selectivity over amines including hydroxylamine was observed. Then, the potential of probe-coated test papers to detect hydrazine in solution and vapor phase was demonstrated. Moreover, the bioimaging of hydrazine in living H1975 cells was performed successfully.

Rapid switch-on fluorescent detection of nanomolar-level hydrazine in water by a diacetoxy-functionalized MOF: application in paper strips and environmental samples

A diacetoxy-functionalized Zr-based metal–organic framework was employed for the selective, ultra-sensitive, turn-on fluorescent detection of hydrazine in an aqueous medium.

A novel 'turn-on' coumarin-based fluorescence probe with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) for sensitive detection of hydrazine and its imaging in living cells

An aggregation-induced emission (AIE)- and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT)-based probe 1 (7‑hydroxy‑3‑(3‑methyl‑isoxazol‑5‑yl)‑chromen‑2‑one) that is highly selective for N₂H₄ has been synthesized, exhibiting a 'turn-on' response toward N₂H₄ in CH₃CN/H₂O solution. The detection limit of the probe was 2.90 ppb, which was evidently lower than the threshold limit value (10 ppb) recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. Notably, the sensor could be used for the detection of N₂H₄ in living cells.

Coumarin-Based Small-Molecule Fluorescent Chemosensors

Coumarins are a very large family of compounds containing the unique 2H-chromen-2-one motif, as it is known according to IUPAC nomenclature. Coumarin derivatives are widely found in nature, especially in plants and are constituents of several essential oils. Up to now, thousands of coumarin derivatives have been isolated from nature or produced by chemists. More recently, the coumarin platform has been widely adopted in the design of small-molecule fluorescent chemosensors because of its excellent biocompatibility, strong and stable fluorescence emission, and good structural flexibility. This scaffold has found wide applications in the development of fluorescent chemosensors in the fields of molecular recognition, molecular imaging, bioorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, materials chemistry, as well as in the biology and medical science communities. This review focuses on the important progress of coumarin-based small-molecule fluorescent chemosensors during the period of 2012-2018. This comprehensive and critical review may facilitate the development of more powerful fluorescent chemosensors for broad and exciting applications in the future.

A coumarin-based fluorescent probe for ratiometric detection of hydrazine and its application in living cells

A new ratiometric fluorescent probe (1) was developed for the detection of hydrazine. The probe was obtained by incorporating the recognition moiety of acetyl group onto a coumarin fluorophore. Probe 1 displayed a distinct cyan emission in a 100% aqueous phosphate buffer solution. In the presence of hydrazine, probe 1 undergoes a hydrazinolysis process to release the coumarin fluorophore, which exhibited significant hypsochromic shifts in both absorption and emission spectra, and thus achieving a ratiometric response. This ratiometric probe is highly selective and sensitive towards hydrazine detection. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 34 nM. Moreover, cellular toxicity and imaging experiments suggested that probe 1 is can be used to monitor hydrazine in live cells.

A hemicyanine-based fluorescent probe for hydrazine detection in aqueous solution and its application in real time bioimaging of hydrazine as a metabolite in mice

A fluorescent probe, Hcy-Ac, was developed for the monitoring of in situ hydrazine release during the metabolism of isoniazid.

A coumarin chalcone ratiometric fluorescent probe for hydrazine based on deprotection, addition and subsequent cyclization mechanism

A coumarin chalcone derivative with a levulinic acid terminal group acts as a ratiometric fluorescent probe for hydrazine based on deprotection, addition and a subsequent cyclization reaction mechanism.

A highly sensitive and selective off-on fluorescent chemosensor for hydrazine based on coumarin β-diketone

A coumarin-based sensor C1, namely 3-acetoacetylcoumarin was designed, synthesized and applied for hydrazine detection. Hydrazinolysis of the chemosensor gives a fluorescent coumarin-pyrazole product C1-N₂H₄ [3-(3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)coumarin], and thus resulting in a prominent fluorescence off-on response toward hydrazine under physiological conditions. The probe is highly selective toward hydrazine over cations, anions and other biologically/environmentally abundant analytes. The detection limit of the probe is 3.2ppb. The sensing mechanism was supported by ¹H NMR, IR, MS and DFT calculation. The application of the fluorescent probe in monitoring intracellular hydrazine in glioma cell line U251 was also demonstrated.

Mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent detection of hydrazine with a fast response time

A fluorescent hydrazine-probe was synthesized, which exhibited high sensitivity, excellent selectivity and anti-interference ability.

A rhodol-based fluorescent chemosensor for hydrazine and its application in live cell bioimaging

A rhodol cinnamate fluorescent chemosensor (RC) has been developed for selective detection of hydrazine (N₂H₄). In aqueous medium, the rhodol-based probe exhibited high selectivity for hydrazine among other molecules. The addition of hydrazine triggered a fluorescence emission with 48-fold enhancement based on hydrazinolysis and a subsequent ring-opening process. The chemical probe also displayed a selective colorimetric response toward N₂H₄ from colorless solution to pink, readily observed by the naked eye. The detection limit of RC for hydrazine was calculated to be 300nM (9.6ppb). RC is membrane permeable and was successfully demonstrated to detect hydrazine in live HepG2 cells by confocal fluorescence microscopy.

2-benzothiazoleacetonitrile based two-photon fluorescent probe for hydrazine and its bio-imaging and environmental applications

A novel turn-on two-photon fluorescent probe NS-N 2 H 4 was developed with the 2-benzothiazoleacetonitrile as a new recognition site for the detection of hydrazine (N2H4). The two-photon probe exhibited favorable properties including high selectivity, low cytotoxicity and almost 16-fold fluorescence enhancement in the presence of N2H4 in solution. The probe could be used to image hydrazine in the living cells. Notably, we also used the two-photon fluorescent probe to image hydrazine in the tissue imaging for the first time. Furthermore, by the way of probe-loaded TLC plate, we further monitored vapor of hydrazine. Therefore, the novel two-photon probe is expected to be employed to detect N2H4 in biosamples and environmental pollution and the new recognition site will be widely applied to construct fluorescent probes for the detection of N2H4.

Fluorescence fiber-optic turn-on detection of trace hydrazine vapor with dicyanovinyl-functionalized triazatruxene-based hyperbranched conjugated polymer nanoparticles

A solution-processed triazatruxene-based hyperbranched conjugated polymer nanoparticle was applied for fluorescence fiber-optic detection of hydrazine vapor with a limit of detection down to 1.1 mg m⁻³ in 5 minutes.

A new near-infrared ratiometric fluorescent probe for hydrazine

Under mild conditions, a novel near-infrared ratiometric and on–off fluorescent probe was synthesized, which can detect hydrazine with high selectivity and anti-interference over other amines, biological species, anions and metal ions.

Ratiometric luminescence detection of hydrazine with a carbon dots–hemicyanine nanohybrid system

Under mild conditions, a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe containing CDs and a hemicyanine derivative was fabricated for reliable, selective, and sensitive sensing of hydrazine.

A novel fluorescent probe for sensitive detection and imaging of hydrazine in living cells

A turn-on fluorescent probe (Naphsulf-O) for hydrazine was developed by protecting the hydroxy group of the fluorophore 6-acetyl-2-hydroxynaphthalene via O-4-nitrobenzenesulfonylation, where 4-nitrobenzene was used as a fluorescence quenching moiety as well as an electrophile. Upon nucleophilic aromatic substitution (NAS) reaction of hydrazine toward the probe, the protecting group was removed and fluorophore was released. The probe exhibits a large Stokes shift, excellent selectivity and high sensitivity for hydrazine detection in aqueous solution with a detection limit of 0.716 ppb (22nM), which is of great importance in both environmental and biological system. Furthermore, it was successfully applied to imaging of hydrazine in living cells.