A phenothiazine based diamino-malenonitrile-linked chromogenic and fluorogenic probe (P-1) was synthesized and characterized for the specific detection of Hg2+ and S2−. In the presence of Hg2+, the probe produces “switch-off” along with a color change from yellow to brown, allowing colorimetric detection of Hg2+ by the naked eye. The sensitivity of probe P-1 towards Hg2+ and S2− was demonstrated in living cells, and cell toxicity assay also reveals that the probe P-1 can be used for selective imaging of Hg2+ and S2− in living cells.
