A coumarin containing red fluorescent protein chromophore analogue (compound 1) has been synthesized and characterized by crystallography. This compound was investigated as a colorimetric chemosensor for Cu2+ and Hg2+ metal ions. The emission spectra of compound 1 was quenched more than 150 fold in the presence of Cu2+ ions while the presence of Hg2+ ions resulted in a bathochromic shift of 60 nm with a significant but comparatively less quenching.