A highly selective fluorescent probe for Cu2+ based on a diarylethene with a benzo[1,2,5]oxadiazol-4-ylamine Schiff base unit

Abstract

A new photochromic diarylethene derivative with a benzo[1,2,5]oxadiazol-4-ylamine Schiff base unit was synthesized and its photochromic and fluorescent properties were systematically investigated in detail by the stimulation of light, metal ions, acid, and base in acetonitrile. Especially, upon addition of Cu2+, its emission peak was blue-shifted by 56 nm and the emission intensity was obviously enhanced by 90 fold, accompanied by the fluorescent color changed from dark red to bright red. And when HCl (0.1 mol L−1) was added into, on the vision, the change of the solution color could be easily seen from yellow to purple. As a result, the diarylethene derivative can sever as a highly selective fluorescent sensor for recognition of Cu2+. Furthermore, the photochromic and fluorescence behavior of the diarylethene derivative to Cu2+ and acid could be applied to the design of molecular logic circuit. More importantly, the diarylethene derivative also can be applied to detect Cu2+ in natural water samples with high accuracy.