A novel phthalazine based highly selective chromogenic and fluorogenic chemosensor for Co2+ in semi-aqueous medium: application in cancer cell imaging

Abstract

A new phthalazine based chemosensor 3 was developed for the highly selective and sensitive detection of Co²⁺ in the mixed solvent system, CH₃CN–H₂O (1 : 1, v/v). In the presence of Co²⁺, the colour of the solution 3 changed from yellow to green; the absorption maxima of 3 was red-shifted from 383 nm to 435 nm, and the fluorescence of 3 at 550 nm was significantly enhanced. The sensor 3 showed a detection limit down to 25 nM by forming a complex species with Co²⁺ in 1 : 1 stoichiometry. Furthermore, by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy experiments, it has demonstrated that it can be used as a fluorescent probe for monitoring Co²⁺ in living cells.