A near-infrared naphthofluorescein-based fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide detection

A simple naphthofluorescein-based probe was designed and synthesized by a two-step method. As expected, there was a good linear relationship between fluorescence intensity (680 nm)/absorbance (640 nm) and H 2 S concentration in the range of 2.00–10.0 μM with a detection limit of 0.50 μM/0.10 μM (S/N = 3). This probe was applied to monitor H 2 S concentration in red wine samples. Furthermore, it was successfully used to image exogenous H 2 S in living Hela cells, indicating its potential application in biology and medicine. • A simple naphthofluorescein-based probe was designed and synthesized by a two-step method. • The probe exhibited high sensitivity, high selectivity, rapid response for H 2 S. • The probe was employed in red wine analysis with satisfactory results. • It was successfully used to monitor and image H 2 S in Hela cells.