A new fluorescent sensor 5 having fused imidazopyridine scaffold has been synthesized via cascade cyclization. It exhibits highly sensitive and selective detection of Fe3+ (‘turn-on’) and Hg2+ (‘turn-off’) in vitro and in HeLa cells.
A chromogenic and “off–on” fluorogenic chemodosimeter (L) based on a naphthalene–rhodamine B derivative was designed, synthesized and characterized for the selective and sensitive detection of Au3+ ions in mixed acetonitrile aqueous media.