A near-infrared BODIPY-based fluorescent probe for ratiometric and discriminative detection of Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions in living cells

A near-infrared distyryl boron dipyrromethene-based sensor bearing one bis(1,2,3-triazole)amino receptor has been synthesized. This probe selectively and quickly binds to Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions in CH3CN/H2O (5:1 v/v) and exhibits remarkably blue-shifted absorption and fluorescence bands due to the inhibition of the intramolecular charge transfer process. The fluorescence changes of this probe upon binding to Hg2+ or Cu2+ ion are totally different, undergoing a ratiometric fluorescence enhancement (for Hg2+) or a fluorescence quenching (for Cu2+) mechanism. The corresponding vivid color changes can be easily seen by the naked eye. This probe was further introduced into Hela cells for living cell imaging and found to discriminate Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions through two near-infrared fluorescence emission channels. These overall results indicate that this Click-derived near-infrared BODIPY-based probe is potentially useful for ratiometric and discriminative detection of Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions in solutions and living cells.