The present disclosure relates to de novo synthesized, chemical compounds of the formula (1) or (2) that function as senescent cell detectors wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and Z are as defined herein. The present invention also relates to processes for the preparation of these compounds, to their use in the detection of senescent cells, to methods of detecting senescence in cells and to kits comprising said compounds. The compounds have the ability to react with lipofuscin, in an analogous manner to the histochemical dye Sudan Black B (SBB).