A new fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensor for Al and F/CN based on a julolidine unit and its bioimaging in living cells.

A novel multifunctional chemosensor HL bearing a julolidine unit and a Schiff base unit has been synthesized. As a fluorescent sensor, HL exhibited excellent selectivity and high sensitivity to Al and F/CN with a low detection limit in acetonitrile. Moreover, HL also showed good colorimetric selectivity to F/CN; a solution color change from colorless to light yellow in acetonitrile was observed by the 'naked-eye'. The properties of HL with Al and F/CN were studied by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry and H NMR titration. Furthermore, the cell imaging experimental results indicated that the chemosensor HL could be applied for the detection of Al in living cells.