A series of fluorescent probes based on 2--anilidovinyl-N-alkyl-heteroaromatic salts was prepared. The selective intracellular localization of these probes in mitochondria and lysosomes was demonstrated.
Remarkably, some of the probes exhibit unusual dichromic behavior, whereby, in just one step, the salts can be visualized in mitochondria and lysosomes at fluorescence emission wavelengths distinct from each other (dual emitters).