A colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for Cu2+ and F− based on a diarylethene with a 1,8-naphthalimide Schiff base unit

Abstract

A new photochromic diarylethene with a 1,8-naphthalimide Schiff base unit has been synthesized, which exhibited typical photochromism and fluorescent switching properties by photoirradiation with high selectivity to Cu2+ and F−. With Cu2+, the diarylethene color changed from greenish yellow to colorless with a decrease in fluorescence intensity at 542nm. And a binding constant of 3.13×104Lmol−1 for the diarylethene-Cu2+ complex was calculated from the Benesi-Hildebrand plot. In the presence of F−, absorption of the diarylethene showed redshift with a color change from greenish yellow to blue.