ESIPT-based fluorescence probe for the ratiometric detection of superoxide

Abstract

A simple ESIPT-based fluorescence probe (HMBT-LW) was developed for the detection of superoxide (O2−). HMBT-LW was synthesised over two steps and was shown to rapidly detect low concentrations of O2− (limit of detection = 7.4 μM), fully reacting within two minutes. Furthermore, HMBT-LW demonstrated excellent selectivity and sensitivity towards O2−