A phenanthroimidazole-based fluorescent probe for ratiometric detection of ClO−

Hypochlorite anion (ClO−), on the one hand, is widely used in household bleaching, drinking water disinfection and other daily life; on the other hand, as one of the biologically important reactive oxygen species, plays an important role in immune system and some human diseases. Herein, a phenanthroimidazole-based fluorescent probe, 1, has been successfully developed for the detection of ClO−. Compound 1 displayed a fluorescence color change from blue to aquamarine and a remarkable ratiometric fluorescence response towards ClO− with rapid response (completed within 5 s) and high sensitivity (detection limit is 26.8 nM.). Additionally, compound 1 would be a potential tool to detection NaClO concentration in several tap water and 84 disinfectant samples.