The tandem Mannich-electrophilic amination reaction: a versatile platform for fluorescent probing and labeling.

Tandem fluorogenic reaction: A new platform for the direct, selective and sensitive detection of formaldehyde and/or secondary aliphatic amines, based on a tandem Mannich-electrophilic amination reaction, is described. Biological applications of hydrophilic, water-soluble fluorescent 2,2-dialkyl-2,3-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-2-ium-8-carboxylates (Safarinium P probes) are exemplified by labeling of the amine-containing Ac-AKF-NH2 peptide and Bacillus subtilis spores in aqueous solution.