摘要
Current sensors for Zn^(2+)detection are largely based on the photoinduced electron transfer(PET)mechanism,which can effectively change the fluorescence intensity,without inducing a significant spectral shift.By coupling the PET mechanism with an excited state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT),a nearinfrared fluorescent sensor was developed for Zn^(2)+detection.Upon binding to the Zn2+cation,the sensor was able to generate two well-separated emission bands(λ_(em)≈540 and 770 nm),whose ratio was quite sensitive to the probe's environments.The finding offers an advanced tool for in vitro and in vivo imaging of the Zn^(2+)cation,which is desirable for future discovery of the biological functions of zinc.
