biostudies-literatureWang RChongqing Science and Technology CommissionNational Natural Science Foundation of China18327-18333https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9080569biostudies-literatureUnknown8(33)In this work, a triphenylamine-benzothiadiazole-based new fluorophore is obtained from a facile "one-step" protocol. A possible reduction mechanism is proposed, and an amine containing α-H plays a key role in the reduction reaction. The resultant product A1H2 exhibits bright red emission in solid state, with an absolute quantum yield of 44.5%. Aggregation induced emission enhancement of A1H2 is also observed with the increased water fraction in THF-H₂O mixture. The nanoparticles of A1H2 reveal good stability and biocompatibility, which are successfully applied in cellular cytoplasm imaging.RSC advancesA new red fluorophore with aggregation enhanced emission by an unexpected "One-step" protocol.PMC9080569cstc2013jcyjA500015120304651203121cstc2016jcyjA0078Tan LHou MWang RZhong CZhu LXu ZfalseA new red fluorophore with aggregation enhanced emission by an unexpected "One-step" protocol.In this work, a triphenylamine-benzothiadiazole-based new fluorophore is obtained from a facile "one-step" protocol. A possible reduction mechanism is proposed, and an amine containing α-H plays a key role in the reduction reaction. The resultant product A1H2 exhibits bright red emission in solid state, with an absolute quantum yield of 44.5%. Aggregation induced emission enhancement of A1H2 is also observed with the increased water fraction in THF-H₂O mixture. The nanoparticles of A1H2 reveal good stability and biocompatibility, which are successfully applied in cellular cytoplasm imaging.2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 May2024-11-14T19:55:42.879Z2024-11-14T19:55:42.879ZS-EPMC90805693554110110.1039/c8ra00955d