A near-infrared fluorescent probe for rapid detection of carbon monoxide in living cells

A near-infrared (NIR) and colorimetric fluorescent probe system was developed for Carbon Monoxide (CO) via a Pd0-mediated Tsuji-Trost reaction. In this probe, phenoxide anion formation (DPCO-) was acted as the signal unit and an allyl carbonate group was used as the recognition unit. This non-fluorescent probe molecule can release the relevant fluorophore after conversion of Pd2+ to Pd0 by CO. The probe system including probe 1 and Pd2+ can be used for "naked-eye" detection of CO, and exhibited high selectivity to CO over various other sensing objects. More importantly, the probe system has great potential for fluorescence imaging of intracellular CO in living cells.