Isoquinoline-based tetradentate ligands with C 3-symmetry, tris (1-or 3-isoquinolylmethyl) amine (1-or 3-isoTQA), have been prepared and their zinc-induced fluorescence enhancement was investigated. Upon excitation at 324 nm, 1-isoTQA shows very weak fluorescence (ϕ=∼ 0.003) in DMF/H2O (1/1) solution. In the presence of zinc ion, 1-isoTQA exhibits fluorescence increase (ϕ= 0.041) at 359 and 470 nm. This fluorescence ...