Telpyridine derivate 1 was synthesized in a one-pot way and exhibited yellow emission in the presence of Zn2+ in aqueous solution, test strip, and HeLa cells. Job's plot suggested that 1 formed a mononuclear complex with Zn2+ at room temperature. The complex was synthesized and found to be emissive in solid state. The process was investigated by theoretical calculations and H-1 NMR spectroscopy.