Luminescent lanthanide complexes with analyte-triggered antenna formation

A new strategy for accessing analyte-responsive luminescent probes is presented. The lanthanide luminescence of Eu and Tb centers is switched on by the analyte-triggered formation of a sensitizing antenna from a nonsensitizing caged precursor. As the cage can be freely varied, an array of probes for different analytes (Pd(0/2+), H(2)O(2), F(-), β-galactosidase) can be created from the same core structure. The probe design affords nanomolar to micromolar detection limits, provides the capability to detect two analytes in parallel, and can be utilized to monitor enzymatic activity in live cells.