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Based on fluorescein, a novel water-soluble and reversible fluorescent probe (Flu-Py) was designed and synthesized for the sequentially “ON–OFF–ON” fluorescent detection of Al 3+ and F − in concentration range of 0–10 μmol L −1 and 0–30 μmol L −1 , respectively, with high sensitivity and excellent selectivity. The detection limits for Al 3+ and F − were 0.092 μmol L −1 and 0.112 μmol L −1 , respectively. The binding mode and sensing mechanism of Flu-Py with Al 3+ was verified by density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculation. The “ON-OFF–ON” fluorescent property of Flu-Py upon the addition of Al 3+ and F − was utilized for the imaging of living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]