A fluorescent sensor has been synthesized that comprises a pyrene moiety tethered to a [2, 2′: 6′, 2 ″]-terpyridyl ligand via a diethynylated thiophene linker. This multicomponent supermolecule is highly emissive in solution but addition of Zn2+ cations results in a drastic decrease in the fluorescence yield. Complexation between Zn2+ cations and the vacant terpyridyl ligand has been confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and by electrospray mass ...