By performing a single-atom replacement within common fluorophores, we have developed a facile and general strategy to prepare a broad-spectrum class of colorimetric and fluorogenic probes for the selective detection of mercury ions in aqueous environments. Thionation of carbonyl groups from existing fluorophore cores results in a great reduction of fluorescence quantum yield and loss of fluorescence emission. The resulting thiocaged probes are efficiently desulfurized to their oxo derivatives in the presence of mercury ions, leading to pronounced changes in chromogenic and fluorogenic signals. Because these probes exhibit high selectivity, excellent sensitivity, good membrane-permeability, and rapid responses towards mercury ions, they are suitable for visualization of mercury in both aqueous and intracellular environments.

通过在普通荧光团中进行单原子置换，我们开发了一种简便通用的策略来制备广谱类比色和荧光探针，用于选择性检测水环境中的汞离子。来自现有荧光团核心的羰基的硫化导致荧光量子产率和荧光发射损失的极大降低。得到的硫笼化探针在汞离子存在的情况下有效地脱硫为它们的氧代衍生物，从而导致显色和荧光信号的显着变化。由于这些探针具有高选择性、出色的灵敏度、良好的膜渗透性以及对汞离子的快速响应，因此它们适用于水性和细胞内环境中汞的可视化。