A new fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensor for Al(3+) 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(3+) 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(3+) and F(−)/CN(−) were studied by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry and (1)H NMR titration. Furthermore, the cell imaging experimental results indicated that the chemosensor HL could be applied for the detection of Al(3+) in living cells.