A novel dual functional pyrene-based turn-on fluorescent probe for hypochlorite and copper (II) ion detection and...

A novel dual-function fluorescent probe PPH was conveniently synthesized by linking pyrazinehydrazide unit and pyrenyl fluorophore. The present probe PPH could be used for simultaneous detection of ClO^- and Cu²⁺ through a fluorescence turn-on response. The probe PPH displayed excellent selectivity and sensitivity towards ClO^- and Cu²⁺ over other anions and metal ions. The detection limits of PPH for ClO^- and Cu²⁺ were calculated to be as low as 4.02 nM and 157 nM, respectively. The probe PPH had good pH stability and was highly responsive to ClO^- and Cu²⁺ in a wide pH range. Furthermore, this probe could be readily applied to visualize ClO^- and Cu²⁺ on the test paper. Additionally, this probe was successfully utilized to the fluorescence imaging of ClO^- and Cu²⁺ in HeLa cells.