A novel NIR-emissive probe with large Stokes shift for hypochlorite detection and imaging in living cells.

Due to the importance of hypochlorite (ClO-) in the process of life, a near-infrared region (NIR) emissive probe (DCPO-DMTC) with large Stokes shift was synthesized for the selective detection of hypochlorite. This probe detects exogenous and endogenous hypochlorite via “oxidative deprotection” of dimethylthiocarbamate-protected phenolic hydroxyl groups. The response was monitored by time-course UV–Vis and fluorescent spectroscopy. The emission response of the probe to ClO− presented a good linear relationship in the 0–100 µM concentration range, and the LOD of this probe was 164 nM. The probe was used to successfully visualize endogenous ClO- generation in RAW 246.7 cells under external stimulation.