A coumarin derivative for the efficient and sensitive detection of hypochlorite and imaging in living cells

Abstract To achieve the precise and specific detection of hypochlorite (ClO−) in living cells, we designed and synthesized the coumarin derivative 7-(diethylamino)-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-2H-chromen-2-one (CMNT). Its structure was confirmed through hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry were utilized to examine the physicochemical property alterations of the fluorescent probe pre- and post-reaction. The probe has been successfully utilized for the detection of ClO− in both real water samples and Hela cells.