A dual-mode chemosensor: Highly selective colorimetric fluorescent probe for Cu2+ and F− ions

•Receptors (R1–R4) exhibited highly selective recognition toward Cu2+ and F− ions.•Receptors (R1–R4) displays “turn-on” colorimetric and fluorescence responses.•The anion detection by R1–R4 is further confirmed by 1H NMR titration method.•Detection of Cu2+ ion in the living cell was achieved using fluoresce microscope.

N-Phenylthiosemicarbazones (R1–R4) have been synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. The sensors (R1–R4) exhibited highly selective and sensitive recognition toward Cu2+ and F− ions over other cations and anions via visual color change. Sensors showed a significant fluorescent enhancement toward Cu2+ in aqueous medium and found a sub-nanomolar detection limit with good quantum yield. R1 displayed high selectivity to Cu2+ over other interference ions with 89-fold fluorescence intensity enhancement upon the addition of 2 equiv. of Cu2+. In addition, the turn-on fluorescent changes upon the addition of Cu2+, is also applied in cell imaging.

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