Due　to　the　high　affinity　between　dithiocarbamate　(DTC)　and　Hg2+,　a　fluorescent　probe　based　on　squaraine　chromophore　with　DTC　side　arm　for　Hg2+　via　coordination　induced　deaggregation　signaling　has　been　designed　and　synthesized.　Squaraine　has　a　high　tendency　to　aggregate　in　aqueous　solution,　and　such　self-aggregation　usually　results　in　a　dramatic　absorption　spectral　broadening　with　fluorescence　emission　quenching.　The　combination　of　the　DTC　side　arm　of　the　probe　with　Hg2+　induces　steric　hindrance,　leading　to　the　deaggregation　of　the　dye　complex,　companying　with　a　fluorescence　emission　restoration.　In　EtOH-H2O　(20:80,　v/v)　solution,　this　＂turn　on＂　fluorescent　probe　has　high　selectivity　and　sensitivity　toward　Hg2+　over　other　metal　ions,　and　the　limit　of　detection　for　Hg2+　was　estimated　as　2.19　x　10(-8)　mol/L　by　3　sigma/k.　(C)　2014　Nan-Yan　Fu.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　on　behalf　of　Chinese　Chemical　Society.　All　rights　reserved.