A Schiff-base fluorescent and colorimetric probe CS was synthesized.
CS is a naked-eye chemosensor for Cu2+ and a fluorescent chemodosimeter for Hg2+.
The mercury-promoted hydrolysis of CS on the imine CN bond was responsible for Hg-induced fluorescence enhancement.
The coordination of Cu2+ to CS induced the fluorescence quenching and a pale yellow solution was developed.
Time-dependent fluorescence images were carried out in living cell.