Zinc(II)-selective ratiometric fluorescent probe based on perylene bisimide derivative.

A fluorescent probe of N,N'-biscyclohexyl-1,7-di(3-pyridoxy)-perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid diimide has been synthesized, and exhibited excellent selectivity and sensitivity for Zn(2+) over other competing biological cations. The Zn(2+) -selective fluorescence blue-shift and enhancing property in conjunction with a visible colorimetric change from orange to green could be observed. With favorable photophysical properties in the visible region, the perylene bisimide derivatives remarkably improved the performance of the probe.