A highly selective fluorescent sensor for Al3+ based on a new diarylethene with a 3-hydroxy-2-naphthohydrazide unit

Abstract

A novel diarylethene derivative with a 3-hydroxy-2-naphthohydrazide unit was successfully synthesized. It displayed favorable photochromism upon irradiation with UV/vis lights. The deprotonated derivative of the diarylethene, due to the addition of triethylamine into its solution, also showed excellent photochromism with a distinguishable color change. The deprotonated example could recover its original state using trifluoroacetic acid. Furthermore, the diarylethene was highly selective toward Al³⁺ with an obvious fluorescent color change from dark to green in acetonitrile. Finally, two logic circuits were constructed on the basis of the unimolecular platform with multi-responsive photochromism and fluorescent switching properties.