8-Hydroxyquinoline derivatives as fluorescent sensors for magnesium in living cells

The spectroscopic and photochemical characterization of two diaza-18-crown-6-hydroxyquinoline derivatives (DCHQ) and their application in total Mg(super 2+) assessment and in confocal imaging as effective Mg(super 2+) indicators are described. The results show that DCHQ derivatives serve as new tools for the study of Mg(super 2+) regulation, allowing sensitive and straightforward detection of both static and dynamic signals.