Design, synthesis, crystal structure and cytotoxicity studies of colorimetric fluorescent “OFF-ON” probes for rapid detection of hydrogen sulfide based on Cu(II) complex

Four colorimetric fluorescent probes based on copper(II) complexes were synthesized and the molecular structures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, ESI-HRMS and elemental analysis . When exposed to HS − , the synthesized probes showed significant color changes from yellow to red and remarkable increase of fluorescence intensity (over 80-fold). What's more, the interaction of host-guest could be completed in 2 min. However, no clear color and fluorescence intensity changes were observed in the presence of other anions (AcO − , H 2 PO 4 − , F − , Cl − , Br − , I − , SO 4 2− , SO 3 2− , CO 3 2− , Cys and GSH). The synthesized colorimetric fluorescent probes could detect HS − rapidly and conveniently. Cytotoxicity studies indicated that the synthesized fluorescent probes were low cytotoxicity in Hela cells and may be used to detect H 2 S level in vivo.