Colorimetric and turn-on fluorescence detection of Ag(I) ion

•A anthracene derivative was synthesized and used to recognize silver(I).•Cysan was high sensitive, selective, colorimetric and turn-on sensor for Ag(I).•The Ag+ detection limit (2.79×10−7molL−1) is reported.•This fluorescence change was further supported by DFT/TD-DFT calculations. In the present work, we have synthesized a new probe 2,-2-disulfediyl bis-(N-anthracen-9-ylmethylene)ethanamine (Cysan) based on anthracene platform. The probe was characterized using NMR spectroscopy, UV–visible, emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The probe was tested for its sensing behaviour towards metal ions like Mn2+, Fe2+, Ba2+, Co2+, K+, Ni2+, Ca2+, Al3+, Cu2+, Cu+, Cr3+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Na+, Au+, Hg2+ and Ag+ in the ethanol/water mixture buffered with HEPES (pH=7.4) by UV–visible and fluorescent techniques. It shows high selectivity towards sensing Ag+ metal ions. Importantly fluorescence enhancement at 440nm was observed for probe upon complexation with Ag+ ions over other metal ions. This fluorescence enhancement is attributable to the restriction of the CN isomerization and the prevention of photoinduced electron transfer from nitrogen to anthracene fluorophore. These photonic studies indicate that the probe can be adopted as a selective, sensitive and reversible fluorescent chemosensor for Ag+ ions.