Aqueous Fluorescence Turn-on Sensor for Zn2+ with a Tetraphenylethylene Compound

A new sensitive and selective fluorescence turn-on sensor for Zn2+ (1) was developed by taking advantage of the aggregation-induced emission of the tetraphenylethylene framework. In addition, the corresponding ester precursor of 1 was successfully used for intracellular Zn2+ imaging.