A novel recognition mechanism based on aldehyde group oxidized into carboxyl group by hypochlorite for the materials of fluorescent probes

In this study, we have developed two fluorescent probes for hypochlorite based on a novel recognition mechanism: aldehyde group oxidized into carboxyl group by sodium hypochlorite. The new mechanism was proved by 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR and ESI–MS analysis for their reacting products. UV–vis and fluorescence titration spectra for ClO − were investigated in PBS (pH 7.4). The detection limits of probe 1 and probe 2 were found to be as low as 77.82   nM and 61.14   nM, respectively. Furthermore, the probes could be used to monitor intracellular ClO − in RAW264.7 macrophage cells.