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

Article abstract of 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.