Development of a novel fluorescent probe for copper ion in near aqueous media

In this work, we have successfully provided a new fluorescent probe based on coumarin and quinoline (CQ) for detecting copper ion. This system utilizes such a chemical process, which responses instantaneously at room temperature with linear proportionality to the amount of copper ion. The receptor can be applied to monitoring of Cu2+ ion in aqueous solution with a pH span 5–11. The chemosensor CQ has a high fluorescence on/off ratio of over 48 and exhibits a high selectivity and sensitivity toward Cu2+ over other common metal ions in near aqueous media. And the compound CQ can easily stain living cells, having potential application in biology.

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► We have reported a highly selective fluorescent probe for copper ions.
► The receptor can be applied to the monitoring of Cu2+ ion in aqueous solution with a pH span 5–11.
► Such coumarin dyes are attractive bioprobes ideal for cells and tissues labeling.