Selective Recognition and Quantification of 2,3‐Bisphosphoglycerate in Human Blood Samples by a Rhodamine Derivative

A new chemosensing ensemble of an azo‐based rhodamine derivative (probe 1) with Hg2+ for a selective and quantitative detection of 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate (2,3‐BPG), which shows a simple dual signal (color and “off‐on‐off” fluorescent change) in water, was developed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first known substituted rhodamine conjugate which has been demonstrated to recognize 2,3‐BPG in live cells within the detection limit of nanomolar range. A 1H NMR titration has been carried out to determine the nature of the interaction between the probe 1‐Hg2+ complex and 2,3‐BPG. The amount of 2,3‐BPG in blood cells, that changes during anemia, hypoxia or chronic lungs disease, could be easily measured using the fluorescence property of the probe 1‐Hg2+ complex.