A unique
rhodamine-based derivative, 2-amino-3-(((1E,2E)-2-((3′,6′-bis(diethylamino)-3-oxospiro[isoindoline-1,9′-xanthen]-2-yl)imino)ethylidene)amino)maleonitrile
(RhGDM), was easily fabricated just by Schiff-base condensation. RhGDM
displays superb selectivity and sensitivity for specifically detecting
the biologically and ecologically important Ga3+ and Hg2+ cations via a fluorescence “off–on”
type in aqueous medium with high quantum yields and also the ultralow
detection limits down to nanomolar level, which are far below the
maximum permissible dosage values set by the WHO, indicating high
efficiency and reliability of the chemoprobe. Meanwhile, RhGDM exhibits
Hg2+-selective chromogenic behavior, and Hg2+ can be detected by naked eye. Interestingly, the plausible sensing
mechanism is the aforementioned metal cation-promoted hydrolysis of
the rhodamine-based Schiff-base skeleton, which was confirmed by the
mass spectra, IR spectra, and density functional theory calculations
as well as the irreversibilities of fluorescence signals in the corresponding
reaction systems, and it is the first reported smart chemoprobe capable
of recognizing simultaneously Ga3+ and Hg2+ through
the hydrolytic mode to the best of our knowledge. Notably, the analytical
applicability of RhGDM can be further realized by using paper films
and silica-coated slides. More excitingly, RhGDM was successfully
employed in tracing out the intracellular Ga3+ and Hg2+ cations in living cells.