The fluorescent spectra of 2, 6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl) pyridine (compound 2) and its N-substituted compound (1) are studied. The fluorescent characteristics of these compounds and the complexes formed from these compounds with different metal ions have also been investigated. The results show that compound 1 possesses a specific ability to form complex with Cu2+ ions, but compound 2 has not such a property. It is proposed that the specific recognition ability of compound 1 to Cu2+ may attribute to the cyclic configuration of this compound in polar solvent.