Synthesis and Characterization of a Mg(2+)-Selective Probe Based on Benzoyl Hydrazine Derivative and Its Application in Cell Imaging

A simple benzoyl hydrazine derivative P was successfully synthesized and characterized as Mg(2+)-selective fluorescent probe. The binding of P with Mg(2+) caused an obvious fluorescence enhancement at 482 nm. The fluorescent, UV-vis spectra, (1)H-NMR, and IR spectra confirmed the formation of P-Mg(2+) complex, and the formation of a 1:1 stoichiometry complex was proved by Job’s plot and mass spectrometry. The recognition mechanism of P to Mg(2+) was owing to the photoinduced electron transfer effect (PET). The fluorescent response was linear in the range of 0.9–4.0 µM with the detection limit of 0.3 µM Mg(2+) in water–ethanol solution (1:9, v:v, pH10.0, 20 mM HEPES). In addition, the results of cell imaging of Mg(2+) in Hl-7701 cells was satisfying.