A Schiff's base receptor for red fluorescence live cell imaging of Zn2+ ions in zebrafish embryos and naked eye detection of Ni2+ ions for bio-analytical applications.

An interesting dual chemoreceptor (QAMP) was synthesized to quantify the presence of two environmentally as well as biologically important Zn2+/Ni2+ ions in a highly selective manner using different analytical techniques. The fluorescence profile was enhanced to 663 nm (red region) due to the formation of its 1 : 1 complex with Zn2+ at room temperature even in the presence of other interfering ions such as Cd2+ and Hg2+. Moreover, it exhibits excellent chromo-isomerism with Ni2+ ions. Meanwhile, this assay could be successfully oriented with molecular logic functions of AND, OR, NOR and NOT logic gates. The obtained large Stokes shift (∼274 nm) value and red emission promoted this receptor as a potential tool for biological studies (e.g. live cell imaging in cancer cell line and zebrafish models).