A highly selective fluorescent probe for the detection of palladium(II) ion in cells and aqueous media

We report on a fluorescent probe for the optical (and even bare eye) detection of palladium(II) ion which causes the probe to undergo a strong increase in absorbance and fluorescence. The probe is easily synthesized from rhodamine B hydrazide and 9-anthraldehyde and displays high selectivity over other metal ions. Fluorescence intensity and absorbance are linearly proportional to the concentration of Pd(II) in the 0-7 mu M and 0-1 mu M concentration range, respectively, with detection limits of 0.21 mu M and 0.03 mu M. The probe can detect Pd(II) with virtually no interferences by other metal ions and anions. It was applied to intracellular imaging of Pd(II) in living cells and to its determination in a palladium-containing catalyst and in spiked water samples.