文摘
A new naphthoxazole-derived probe with the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process was synthesized. The probe exhibited a highly selectivity and sensitivity for Zn2+. The detection mechanism was explored by ESI–MS, 1H NMR analysis, and density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. The probe was low toxic and suitable for imaging Zn2+ in cultured MCF7 cells.