Molecular nanoarchitectonics of proton triggered tetraphenylethylene-based detector: colorimetric, reversible, and intracellular pH

Abstract

In this paper, we designed, synthesized, and characterized 4,4′,4′′,4′′′-(ethene-1,1,2,2-tetrayl)tetrakis(N,N-dimethylaniline) (1). Furthermore, UV-Vis absorbance and fluorescence emission studies reveal that 1 acts as a selective and sensitive probe for reversible acid–base sensing in solution as well as in the solid state. Nevertheless, the probe exhibited colorimetric sensing and intracellular fluorescent cell imaging of acid–base sensitive cells, making it a practical sensor with several potential applications in chemistry.