Four novel salicyalaimine-based fluorescence sensors have been successfully synthesized, named as compounds 5 ~ 8. Their cation recognition abilities toward various cations Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Al3+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Ag+, Cd2+ , and Zn2+ have been examined by UV-Vis and fluorescence. Compound 6 shows significant fluorescent enhancement with the addition of Al3+ and Cr3+, in compared with other cations in DMSO solution. Compounds 9 ~14 are synthesized by the complexation of compounds 5 and 6 as a ligand with metal ion (manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc). Based on a series of experimental results, we found that compounds 9 ~ 14 can be used to detect Cr3 + and Al3 +. In addition, compounds 10, 13 and 14 can also detect Zn2+, wheres compound 11 can also detect Cu2+. We hypothesize that a substitution reaction occurs during the recognition process; the binding ability is approximately assigned in the order Al3 + > Cu2 + > Zn2 + > Co2 +, Mn2 +.