A dual-responsive fluorescent probe for detection of fluoride ion and hydrazine based on test strips

Hydrazine (N 2 H 4 ) and fluoride ion (F − ) are regarded as environmental pollutants and potential carcinogens. A dual-functional fluorescent probe (probe 1 ) was developed for both F − and N 2 H 4 with high selectivity and sensitivity. 1 was based on nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction for N 2 H 4 detection and selective cleavage of 4-nitrobenzenesulphonyl group for the determination of F − . The limits of detection of probe for F − and N 2 H 4 were 77.82 nM and 29.34 nM, respectively, which are far below the threshold limit value (TLV) of United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The home-made test strips of 1 provided the positive tool for F − and gaseous N 2 H 4 in different system. And the confocal fluorescence images indicated that 1 can quantitatively detect N 2 H 4 in living PC12 cells. Promisingly, 1 has great prospects for N 2 H 4 imaging and determining in living system.