A fast responsive chromogenic and near-infrared fluorescence lighting-up probe for visual detection of toxic thiophenol in environmental water and living cells

Thiophenols as high toxic environmental pollutants are poisonous for animals and aquatic organisms. Therefore, it is indispensable to monitor thiophenols in the environment. Herein, a novel near-infrared fluorescent probe was developed for the detection of thiophenols, which was easily prepared by one-step coupling of 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonyl chloride with Nile blue. The probe showed a significant near infrared (∼675 nm) fluorescence “turn-on” response to thiophenols with some good features including chromogenic reaction, high sensitivity and selectivity, fast response, near-infrared emission along with low detection limit (1.8 nM). The probe was employed to rapidly and visually determine thiophenols in several industrial wastewaters with good recoveries (90–110%). Moreover, this probe has been demonstrated good capability for imaging thiophenol in HeLa cells.