Cu2+-induced intermolecular static excimer formation of pyrenealkylamine

Synthesis of monopyrenylalkylamine derivative 1 and its fluorescence behavior for Cu2+ in H2O/CH3CN (1:1, v/v) were investigated. Upon Cu2+ binding, 1, bearing a sulfonamide group, exhibited a marked excimer emission at 455 nm along with a weak monomer emission at 375 nm. The excimer emission, driven by formation of an intermolecular pyrenyl static excimer upon Cu2+ binding to the sulfonamide group, is rationalized by experimental and theoretical DFT calculation results.