A Smart Fluorescent Probe Based on Salicylaldehyde Schiff's Base with AIE and ESIPT Characteristics for the Detections of NH and ClO.

Smart and versatile salicylaldehyde Schiff's bases have been proved their excellent performances including large shocks shift, dual emission wavelengths and sensitive to environment for fluorescence analysis. Herein, a simple salicylaldehyde Schiff's base molecular (PBAS) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and the excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT) effects was constructed for detecting NH and ClO. The highly specific and sensitive response to NH was witnessed by the fast turn-on of the strong blue fluorescence and to ClO was observed by the rapid turn off of the weak green fluorescence simultaneous decomposing of the probe. The results of mass spectrum analysis showed that probe PBAS decomposed under the influence of NH whereas probe PBAS can complex with ClO and prevent effective ESIPT process. Benefiting from its high properties, this fluorescence molecular provides an effective tool for probing NH and ClO in live cells.