A new rhodamine-coumarin Cu2+-selective colorimetric and ‘off–on’ fluorescence probe for effective use in chemistry and bioimaging along with its bound X-ray crystal structure

A new coumarin containing rhodamine architecture has been synthesized for selective and chromogenic detection of Cu2+ in aqueous media. Cu2+ induced spirocyclic ring opening of the rhodamine dye has been demonstrated by single crystal X-ray structures of the fluorescence probe as well as its bound Cu2+-complex. It is also promising as a Cu2+-selective sensor in the fluorescence imaging of living cells.