Monitoring Zn2+levels in biological environments with fluorescent sensors is important. This paper givesthe synthesis and properties of a new Zn2+sensor based on quinoline and pyridylaminophenol. The sensoris selective for Zn2+and remains fluorescent when bound to Zn2even in the presence of other metal ions.Along with fluorescing when bound to Zn2+, the sensor becomes colored when Cu2+or Co2+is added toit. These two metal ions result in the sensor becoming yellow. The crystal structure of the Cu–sensorcomplex shows that all of the sensor’s nitrogens are bound to the metal ion. In studies with living cells,the fluorescence intensity of the sensor correlates to the concentration of Zn2+.