A highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for Hg2Â + and its imaging application in living cells

Two rhodamine-based Hg2+ probes L1 and L2 were synthesized and characterized. The probe L1 can't be applied because of its poor solubility. However, the probe L2 shows a high selective and sensitive fluorescence response to Hg2+. Furthermore, the L2 was successfully used for the detection of Hg2+ in living cells.