A new fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensor for Cu(II) based on rhodamine hydrazone and ferrocene unit

We report the development of a new fluorescence probe based on rhodamine hydrazone and ferrocene unit to monitor the intracellular Cu2+ level in living cells. The fluorescent probe exhibits a fluorescence response toward Cu2+ under physiological conditions with high sensitivity and selectivity and facilitates naked-eye detection of Cu2+. The fluorescence intensity was significantly increased about 40-fold with 5 equiv. of Cu2+ added.