A highly selective fluorescent sensor for Cd2+ based on a new diarylethene with a 1,8-naphthyridine unit

• Published in: Dyes and pigments Vol. 139; pp. 208 - 217
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xiaoxia, Wang, Renjie, Fan, Congbin, Liu, Gang, Pu, Shouzhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Cd2+ recognition; Diarylethene; Fluorescent sensor; Logic circuit; Photochromism; Logic circuit; Fluorescent sensor; Diarylethene; Cd2+ recognition; Photochromism
• ISSN: 0143-7208; 1873-3743
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2016.12.023

A new asymmetrical photochromic diarylethene has been synthesized by using 1,8-naphthyridine as a functional group and perfluorodiarylethene as photoswitching unit via a peptide bond linkage, and its molecular structure was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound exhibited favorable photochromism upon irradiation with UV/vis light, and its fluorescent behaviour could be efficiently modulated by light, base/acid, and metal ion in THF. The deprotonated derivative of the diarylethene also showed good photochromism, and displayed remarkable “turn-on” fluorescence response during photocyclization process. Furthermore, the diarylethene was highly selective toward Cd2+ with an obvious fluorescent color change from dark to bright green in THF. Finally, a logic circuit was fabricated with four inputs of the combinational stimuli of UV/vis and Cd2+/EDTA, and one output of fluorescence intensity. [Display omitted] •A new diarylethene with a 1,8-naphthyridine unit was synthesized.•Its fluorescence could be efficiently modulated by light, base/acid, and metal ion.•It was highly selective toward Cd2+ with an obvious fluorescent color change from dark to green.