Naphthalimide derived fluorescent probes with turn-on response for Au(3+) and the application for biological visualization.

The 4-N,N-dimethyl-1,8-naphthalimide based fluorescent probes have been explored for selective detection of Au(3+). Both probes show a pronounced fluorescence enhancement response to Au(3+). Hydroxy is introduced as ligand of Au(3+) for Probe 1 and the newly designed Probe 2 contains an alkyne moiety to recognize Au(3+) through an irreversible C≡C bond hydrolysis reaction. Probe 1 exhibits higher performance such as faster response, lower detection limit of 0.050μM and the better responsive effect in 99.5% water system compared with most of probes published. The Probe 2 displays high stability to pH, suitable water solubility, wider linear range (0-100μM) to Au(3+), and live-cells imaging with low cytotoxicity.