BODIPY-based naked-eye fluorescent on-off probe with high selectivity for H2S based on thiolysis of dinitrophenyl ether

[Display omitted] •Probe 3 with 2,4-dinitrophenoxyl group was strongly fluorescent.•Sulfhydryl-specific cleavage reaction released the hydroxyl group.•BODIPY fluorophore 2 was weakly fluorescent.•Probe 3 was highly selective and sensitive to H2S.•Probe 3 could be used to detect HS− in HCT-116 and CT-26 cells. 1-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)ethanone as a starting material, BODIPY 3 bearing 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) group was prepared in total 7% yield. Probe 3 was strongly fluorescent. Sulfhydryl-specific cleavage reaction released the hydroxyl group. Due to the electron transfer of the hydroxyl group in 2 to the BODIPY core, dye 2 was weakly fluorescent. Naked-eye and fluorescent turn-off probe 3 was highly selective and sensitive to H2S, and could be used to detect HS− in HCT-116 and CT-26 cells, indicating its potential application for studying the effect of HS− in biological system.