Dual-site fluorescent probe for highly selective and sensitive detection of sulfite and biothiols

A dual-site fluorescent probe with double bond and aldehyde as reactive sites, was designed for the selective detection of sulfite and biothiols. Sulfite reacts with conjugate bond selectively, while Cys responses with aldehyde and GSH occurs substitution reaction. Different interactions cause different absorption and fluorescence responses. Moreover, it could be further applied in imaging in living cells.