Cd2+ Triggered The Fret "On": A New Molecular Switch For The Ratiometric Detection Of Cd2+ With Live-Cell Imaging And Bound X-Ray Structure

On the basis of the Forster resonance energy transfer mechanism between rhodamine and quinoline-benzothiazole conjugated dyad, a new colorimetric as well as fluorescence ratiometric probe was synthesized for the selective detection of Cd2+. The complex formation of the probe with Cd2+ was confirmed through Cd2+-bound single-crystal structure. Capability of the probe as imaging agent to detect the cellular uptake of Cd2+ was demonstrated here using living RAW cells.