A colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe for selective detection and cellular imaging of glutathione

• A simple ratiometric fluorescent probe was develpted for detection of GSH.
• The probe can distinguish GSH from Cys and Hcy to achieve the selective detection of GSH under physiological condition.
• The probe is applicable to selective ratiometric detection of GSH in living cells.
• The probe operates by a new GSH-induced SNAr-aldimine condensation strategy.

A new colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe 1 based on a chlorinated coumarinyl aldehyde was developed for selective detection and cellular imaging of glutathione (GSH) over cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy). Probe 1 exhibits a dramatic colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence responses toward biothiols Cys, Hcy and GSH with high selectivity over other amino acids. Cys (or Hcy) induces a tandem SNAr-rearrangement reaction to form the corresponding amino-coumarins (2a or 2b), which result in about 75 nm and 35 nm blue-shifts in absorption and emission, respectively. By comparison, the thio-coumarin (3′) derived from the SNAr reaction with GSH, which does not occur rearrangement because of steric hindrance, undergoes an intramolecular aldimine condensation lead to a cyclic iminium cation (3) with 47 nm and 39 nm red-shifts in absorption and emission, respectively. The significantly difference of photophysical properties enable excellent selectivity towards GSH over Cys and Hcy. Further application to cellular imaging indicates that the probe has appreciable cell permeability and is highly responsive to the changes of GSH level. As a result, it is applicable to monitor GSH level in living cells.