β-Carboline-Based pH Fluorescent Probe and Its Application for Monitoring Enzymatic Ester Hydrolysis.

A novel pH-activatable fluorescent probe, 1-(propan-2-yl)-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carboxylic acid (L-1), based on β-carboline derivatives, has been developed, which displays significant fluorescent response toward pH variation with high selectivity, good photo-stability and favorable pKa value. Moreover, L-1 can dynamically monitor the release of protons during ester hydrolysis reaction in consistent with enzymatic kinetics manner.