Near-Infrared-Emitting Probes for Detection of Nanomolar Hydrazine in a Complete Aqueous Medium with Real-Time Application in Bioimaging and Vapor-Phase Hydrazine Detection

Hydrazine is a highly reactive inorganic compound that is commonly used as a thruster propellant in rocket fuels. In this report, the synthesis of a naphthofluorescein-based simple, sensitive, and selective colorimetric and fluorescent probe for the qualitative and quantitative determination of hydrazine is described. An ultrasensitive NIR probe is employed for the nanomolar detection of hydrazine with real-time applicability. The probe is capable of detecting hydrazine in a completely aqueous medium without the interference of other analytes. The probe reacts selectively with hydrazine and exhibits turn-on NIR emission with quantum yields ranging from Φ = 0.0011 to Φ = 0.5338. This enables the probe to selectively detect extremely low concentrations of hydrazine (∼47 nM). As a consequence, practical utility of the probe is greatly augmented. Eco-friendly test strips were prepared to monitor the hydrazine under aqueous and vapor phases. The potential of the probe was verified by monitoring the presence of hydrazine in a living system by fluorescence bioimaging studies of living cells.