Hg2+-selective “turn-on” fluorescent chemodosimeter derived from glycine and living cell imaging

A new nonfluorescent benzthiazole derivative of dithio-N-phthaloylglycine was prepared, and its fluorogenic chemodosimetric behaviors toward transition metal ions were investigated. The dithio-N-phthaloylglycine derivative showed highly Hg2+-selective fluorescence enhancing (“turn-on”) properties in 20% aqueous acetonitrile solution (H2O/CH3CN = 80:20, v/v). The chemodosimetric behavior is based on the Hg2+ triggered desulfurization of dithio-N-phthaloylglycine derivative into its oxygen analogue. To observe the cell permeability of 3 into Pollen grains, we also employed it for the fluorescence detection of the changes of intracellular Hg2+ in cultured cells.

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► Non-fluorescent dithio-N-phthaloylglycine derivative showed highly Hg2+-selective turn-on fluorescencent.
► Hg2+-triggered desulfurization utilized for the development of Hg2+-selective chemodosimeter.
► A new amino acid based Hg2+-selective chemodosimeter generates blue fluorescent.
► The sensor was applied for in vivo imaging of Hg2+ using Pollen cells.