“Turn-on” fluorescent dipodal chemosensor for nano-molar detection of Zn2+: application in living cells imaging

A malonohydrazide derivative bearing an imine and phenolic group was synthesized and had a high affinity and selectivity towards Zn2+. The recognition properties of receptor 1 were evaluated using absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. The 1:1 stoichiometry of 1.Zn2+ was confirmed from job׳s plot, mass spectra and density functional theory (DFT). The detection of Zn2+ in intracellular environment of HeLa cell through confocal microscopy was successfully applied for live cell imaging.