The combination of [(2,2'-dipicolylamino)butyl]pyrene (1) and pyrophosphate (PPi) was shown to be functional as a ratiometric Zn2+ ion fluorescent probe. This was changed to Zn2+-1 upon the addition of Zn2+, which was dimerized by a PPi-mediated self-assembly, leading to a relatively strong emission fluorescence with a large bathchromic shift. This chemosensor can detect Zn2+ in an aqueous solution of physiological pH with high selectivity toward Zn2+ over a variety of metal ions, including Cd2+, and has a low detection limit of 0.64 mu M in an aqueous buffer system. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.