Fluorescent method to quantify copper or platinum based on catalysis

A method of identifying or quantifying copper in a test sample comprising:

• mixing, thereby producing a reaction mixture:
• the test sample;
• a triaryl phosphine represented by Formula 1a, optionally dissolved in a solvent,
• wherein R1 is hydrogen, dialkylamino, C1-6 alkyl, fluoro, or C1-6 alkoxy;
• R2 is hydrogen or SO3−;
• and R3 is hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, fluoro, amino, or C1-6 alkoxy;
• and
• a propargyl fluorochrome ether or carbamate, that, when subjected to a depropargylation reaction to produce a depropargylated fluorochrome, results in an increase in fluorescence of the depropargylated fluorochrome as compared to the propargyl fluorochrome of at least 10 times at a fluorescence excitation wavelength of the depropargylated fluorochrome;
• reacting the test sample, the triaryl phosphine, and the propargyl fluorochrome ether or carbamate for a time, temperature, and pH sufficient to cause the depropargylation of the propargyl fluorochrome ether or carbamate in presence of copper in the sample;
• and
• identifying or quantifying copper in the test sample by determining or quantifying fluorescence of the reaction mixture when illuminated at the excitation wavelength of the depropargylated fluorochrome.