A acid/base gated photochromic and fluorescent sensor based on a diarylethene with a 2-(1H-dithienobenzoimidazole)phenol unit

Abstract

A new photochromic diarylethene with a 2-(1H-dithienobenzoimidazole)phenol unit has been synthesized. The gated photochromism and fluorescence switching behaviors of the compound induced by acid/base were investigated. Addition of acid enhanced its fluorescence intensity and the remotely photochromic reactivity was activated. Moreover, the fluorescence intensity of the diarylethene was notably enhanced by 6-fold with a concomitant emission peak blue-shifted from 500 nm to 469 nm triggered by Al3+. And the compound exhibited a “turn-off” fluorescence switching property for the detection of CN− with a fluorescence color change from blue to dark. Therefore, it could be served as a sensitive fluorescence probe for the detection of Al3+/CN−. Finally, a logic circuit was fabricated on the basis of the unimolecular platform by using the fluorescence emission intensity at 469 nm as output and the combinational stimuli of UV/vis and Al3+/EDTA as inputs.