A new turn-on Cu2+ fluorescent sensor (CST) having a trehalose moiety, which confers a relatively large solubility in water, has been synthesized. The chemosensor is therefore suitable for studies in aqueous solution. Full potentiometric and UV-vis characterization evidence that at physiological pH CST forms with Cu2+ a species with a 1: 1 stoichiometry allowing for a straightforward correlation between CST response and copper (II) ...