A novel ratiometric fluorescent probe for “naked-eye” detection of sulfite ion: Applications in detection of biological SO32− ions in food and live cells

A new “turn-on” luminescent probe PI has been designed and synthesized for the selective detection of sulfite ions based on the mechanism of nucleophilic addition. The designed probe PI owns naked eye detection, excellent selectivity, sensitivity, rapid response (150 s) and low limits of detection (LOD) of 0.57 μM, which is an agreeable limit by the world wide expert food additive committees. Furthermore, the probe PI was used to recognize the sulfite ions level in realistic samples and live cells. [Display omitted] •A novel ratiometric luminescent probe PI have been designed and synthesized based on nucleophilic addition mechanism.•The probe shows an excellent selectivity towards SO32- anion.•The probe detects sulfite ion with LOD of 0.57 µM and fast response time of 150 s.•The probe was successfully applied to detect sulfite ion in realistic samples and in live HeLa cells.