A ratiometric fluorescence probe for selective visual sensing of Zn²⁺

Abstract

A simple ratiometric fluorescence probe based on vinylpyrrole end-capped bipyridine for the visual sensing of Zn²⁺ under aqueous physiological pH (6.8-7.4) is described. The fluorophores 3a-c showed strong emission around 537 nm in acetonitrile with a quantum yield of 0.4. In buffered (HEPES, pH 7.2) acetonitrile-water mixture (9:1 v/v), titration of transition metal salts to 3c showed strong quenching of the emission at 547 nm except in the case of Zn²⁺, which resulted in a red-shifted emission at 637 nm. Alkali and alkaline earth metal salts could not induce any considerable changes to the emission behavior of 3a-c. The binding of Zn²⁺ was highly selective in the presence of a variety of other metal ions. Though Cu²⁺ quenches the emission of 3c, in the presence of Zn²⁺, a red emission prevails, indicating the preference of 3c toward Zn²⁺. Job plot and Benesi-Hildebrand analysis revealed a 1:1 complexation between the probe and the metal ion. The selective visual sensing of Zn²⁺ with a red emission is ideally suited for the imaging of biological specimens.