Imidazoloquinoline bearing thiol probe as fluorescent electrochemical sensing of Ag and relay recognition of Proline

[Display omitted] •Imidazole conjugated quinolone bearing a thiol group (IQT) senses Ag+ sensor via turn on-off mechanism without any influence of other metal ions.•In situIQT-Ag+ complex is utilized as a reversible sensor for Proline by a fluorescence enhancement mechanism as relay recognition process.•The practical applications for sensor IQT is also demonstrated via electrochemical desalination techniques.•A colorimetric kit has been developed and bioimaging studies was carried out by utilizing IQT for the detection of Ag+. A new highly selective fluorescent chemosensor for Ag+ was developed based on an imidazole conjugated quinolone bearing a thiol group (IQT). The Chemosensor serves as fluorescence quencher for Ag+ in solution in the presence of other competing metal ions. Further, the in situ formed IQT-Ag+ complex is utilized as a reversible sensor for the amino acid, Proline with high selectivity over other amino acids by a fluorescence enhancement mechanism as relay recognition process. The practical applications for sensor IQT is also demonstrated by the complete removal of Ag+ ions from the environmental water samples via electrochemical desalination techniques and its bioimaging in cellular micro-organisms.