A near-infrared fluorescent probe based on phenothiazine for rapid detecting of CN and ClO

Hypochlorite (ClO−) and cyanide (CN−) are closely associated with various pathophysiological processes, it's necessary to develop an efficient method for their detection. In view of the advantages of fluorescent probes and the convenience of organic synthesis, we rationally constructed a novel near-infrared “turn-off” fluorescent probe BPQO based on phenothiazine and 8-hydroxyquinaldine. Probe BPQO can specifically and sensitively detect ClO− (LOD = 2.0 μM) and CN− (LOD = 3.3 μM), and the response processes can be completed in 42 s and 50 s, respectively. In addition, it was proved to be so low toxicity that it has been successfully used for imaging detection of exogenous CN− in HepG2 cells.