Autocatalytic-Amplificative Detection of Ethylene

Amplified sensing systems offer the potential for high sensitivity; however, the vast majority of molecular strategies involve stoichiometric detection and signal transduction, including numerous recent examples of systems inspired by transition metal catalyzed reactions. Allosteric catalysis via activation of latent precatalysts by a target analyte represents an attractive strategy for detecting low concentration species. Analyte amplification represents another attractive approach, akin to PCR-based assays. Here we report the development of an autocatalytic detection system based on ethylene activation of latent Ru-based olefin metathesis precatalysts. Signal transduction is amplified both by catalytic ring closing metathesis of profluorescent substrates and ethylene propagation to activate additional units of latent catalyst. High sensitivity is observed as a result of this dual-mode Amplified Detection of Ethylene (ADE). Detection of endogenous ethylene from fruit and oxidation-decomposition of polyunsaturated fatty acids via lipid peroxides is demonstrated.