A colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for Cu2+ and F- based on a diarylethene with a 1,8-naphthalimide Schiff base unit

A new photochromic diarylethene with a 1,8-naphthalimide Schiff base unit has been synthesized, which exhibited typical photochromism and fluorescent switching properties by photoirradiation with high selectivity to Cu2+ and F-. With Cu2+, the diarylethene color changed from greenish yellow to colorless with a decrease in fluorescence intensity at 542 nm. And a binding constant of 3.13 x 10(4) L mol(-1) for the diarylethene-Cu2+ complex was calculated from the Benesi-Hildebrand plot. In the presence of F-, absorption of the diarylethene showed redshift with a color change from greenish yellow to blue. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.