Oxidation and reduction are important chemical and biological processes. The redox state is related with physical functions and health. Thus, it is meaningful to develop tools for study the redox process. Fluorescence is a powerful method to connecting the microcosm and macrocosm. In this review, we discuss the recent progress of reversible fluorescent probes for chemical and biological redox process according to different active centers.In this review, we discuss the recent progress of reversible fluorescent probes for chemical and biological redox process according to different active centers.Download high-res image (88KB)Download full-size image

•Two fluorescent probes based on BODIPY fluorophore and Gabriel reaction for hydrazine were developed.•Both fluorescent probes exhibit good sensitivity and selectivity to hydrazine in aqueous medium.•The fluorescent probes showed different reactivity with hydrazine.Development of simple and selective methods for the detection of hydrazine has attracted much attention, because hydrazine is harmful to human organs and is a probable human carcinogen. As presented in this work, two new colorimetric and fluorescent probes (HP1 and HP2) for hydrazine based on dipyrromethene boron difluoride (BODIPY) fluorophore were synthesized and characterized, which showed different reactivity with hydrazine through Gabriel reaction mechanism. In the case of HP1, the hydrazinelysis occurred completely and lead to an enhanced fluorescence that is due to the released N-protecting group. However, the hydrazinelysis of HP2 did not reach its completion, where the additioned hydrazine group caused efficient PET quenching, resulting in a decreased fluorescence. Both probes displayed good sensitivity and selectivity to hydrazine in aqueous medium.Download high-res image (152KB)Download full-size image

•A fluorescence-marked and chiral organoruthenium-functionalized core–shell structured nanocatalyst is developed.•The catalyst has strong fluorescence and it is visible by naked eye under radiation by 365 nm light of portable ultraviolet lamp.•The catalyst exhibits good catalytic efficiency and can be easily recovered and reused repeatedly in six consecutive reactions.Fluorescence-marked core–shell structured nanocatalyst was prepared through co-condensation method. The catalyst exhibits good catalytic efficiency for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones and can be recovered and reused several times. The strong fluorescent emission easily tracks the recovery process of the nanocatalyst.

A mild transformation in an aqueous medium for the one-pot synthesis of optically active β-hydroxy sulfones is described. The intermediates of β-keto sulfones obtained via a nucleophilic substitution reaction of α-bromoketones and sodium sulfinates in H2O/MeOH (1:3, v/v) at 50 °C were reduced through Ru-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation in one-pot using HCOONa as a hydrogen source providing a variety of chiral β-hydroxy sulfones with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities.

A chiral catalyst, Cp*RhTsDPEN (Cp* = pentamethyl cyclopentadiene, TsDPEN = substitutive phenylsulfonyl-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine), was synthesized and immobilized at the surface of glass. The immobilized catalyst exhibited good catalytic efficiency for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones in water with HCOONa as hydrogen source.A chiral Rh catalyst was immobilized on the surface of glass slide, and the heterogeneous catalyst exhibited good catalytic efficiency for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of aromatic ketones in aqueous medium.

•A pH and light-dual controlled cargo release system exhibiting AND logic is developed.•The delivery system can release the cargo in small potions by controlling the opening/closing of the gate.•The delivery system realizes the controlled release in zebrafish.Recently, the controlled drug delivery system has become a potential platform for biomedical application. Herein, we developed a pH and light-dual controlled cargo release system exhibiting AND logic based on MCM-41 mesoporous silica nanoparticles, which was surface modified using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with imine bond and azobenzene derivative. The complex of β-CD and azobenzene derivative effectively blocked the cargo delivery in pH = 7.0 phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution without 365 nm UV light irradiation. The cargo was fully released when both factors of acidic environment (pH = 5.0 PBS) and 365 nm UV light irradiation were satisfied, meanwhile only very little cargo was delivered if one factor was satisfied. The result also demonstrates that the opening/closing of the gate and the release of the cargo in small portions can be controlled.