Water‐Soluble Triarylboron Compound for ATP Imaging In Vivo Using Analyte‐Induced Finite Aggregation

Abstract Adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP) is a multifunctional molecule that participates in many important biological processes. Currently, fluorescence indicators for ATP with high performance are in demand. Reported herein is a novel water‐soluble triarylboron compound which displays an apparent ATP‐dependent fluorescence enhancement when dispersed in water. It can selectively recognize ATP from other bioactive substances in vitro and in vivo. The ATP‐induced finite aggregation endows the indicator with appreciable photostability and superior tolerance to environmental electrolytes. This indicator has been successfully applied to the ATP imaging in NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells. The difference in the ATP levels within the membrane and cytosol is clearly visible.