A multiple switching diarylethene with a phenyl-linked rhodamine B unit and its application as chemosensor for Cu2+

Abstract

A new photochromic diarylethene with a phenyl-linked rhodamine B unit was synthesized and its photochemcial properties were systematically studied. The diarylethene could be used as a multiple fluorescence switch by sequential stimulations with protons and light. As a result, an INHIBIT logic gate was constructed by using the stimulation of trifluoroacetic acid and ultraviolet as inputs and the fluorescence intensity at 599 nm as output. Additionally, the diarylethene could act as a naked-eye chemosensor for the recognition of Cu2+ in aqueous acetonitrile. When triggered by Cu2+, the fluorescence intensity of the diarylethene at 594 nm was dramatically enhanced by 133-fold with a significant fluorescence change from dark to bright yellow.