A Coumarin-based Fluorescence Sensor for the Reversible Detection of Thiols

Abstract A coumarin derivative with a cyanoacrylamide electrophile was prepared and used for fluorescence sensing of thiols. Thiol addition to the electrophile proceeded in a reversible manner so that the compound displayed fluorescence emission depending on thiol concentrations. Dissociation constants of the thiol addition products are in the mM ranges, which are similar to cellular thiol concentrations.