Synthesis and Characterization of a Mg²⁺-Selective Probe Based on Benzoyl Hydrazine Derivative and Its Application in Cell Imaging

Abstract

A simple benzoyl hydrazine derivative P was successfully synthesized and characterized as Mg2+-selective fluorescent probe. The binding of P with Mg2+ caused an obvious fluorescence enhancement at 482 nm. The fluorescent, UV-vis spectra, 1H-NMR, and IR spectra confirmed the formation of P-Mg2+ complex, and the formation of a 1:1 stoichiometry complex was proved by Job’s plot and mass spectrometry. The recognition mechanism of P to Mg2+ was owing to the photoinduced electron transfer effect (PET). The fluorescent response was linear in the range of 0.9–4.0 µM with the detection limit of 0.3 µM Mg2+ in water–ethanol solution (1:9, v:v, pH10.0, 20 mM HEPES). In addition, the results of cell imaging of Mg2+ in Hl-7701 cells was satisfying.

Keywords

• fluorescent probes
• Mg²⁺
• cell imaging