A highly selective turn-on near-infrared fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide detection and imaging in living cells

We have described a turn-on near-infrared fluorescent probe Cy–NO2 based on nitro group reduction for intracellular H2S detection. The probe employs cyanine dye as a fluorophore, and is equipped with a nitro group as a fluorescent modulator. It is readily employed for assessing intracellular H2S level changes, and confocal imaging is achieved successfully.