A new chemosensor, N′-[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]imidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-2-carbohydrazide (L2), was developed, which could detect Al3+ in DMSO/H2O HEPES buffer and Zn2+ in EtOH/H2O HEPES buffer. The chemosensor exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity for sensing Al3+ and Zn2+ with a fluorescence “turn-on” mode.
![Graphical abstract: A fluorescence chemosensor based on imidazo[1,2-a]quinoline for Al3+ and Zn2+ in respective solutions](http://hg.y866.cn/compound/lib/scimg/usr/1/C5RA21055K.jpg)