A “turn-on” fluorescent chemosensor for zinc ion with facile synthesis and application in live cell imaging

• A “turn-on” fluorescent chemosensor for the detection of Zn(II) was facilely synthesized.
• Detection of Zn(II) can be performed in water at neutral pH with high sensitivity.
• The chemosensor exhibits remarkably selective to Zn(II) over other metal ions.
• The chemosensor could be efficiently delivered to live cells for bioimaging of Zn(II).

Compound 1 was facilely synthesized through a one step reaction from commercially available materials. As a sensitive and selective “turn-on” fluorescent chemosensor for Zn(II), 1 exhibits a 40-fold fluorescence enhancement response to Zn(II) over other physiological relevant metal ions in aqueous solution at neutral pH. Furthermore, 1 could be efficiently delivered to live cells for bioimaging of Zn(II).

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