An aroylhydrazone-containing diarylethene derivative derived chemosensor for colorimetric and fluorimetric dual sensing Cu2+

Abstract A diarylethene derivative with an aroylhydrazone unit was designed and synthesized as a colorimetric and fluorimetric dual responsive sensor for Cu2+ with high selectivity and rapid response. Connecting 7-diethylamino-3-hydrazide-coumarin moiety and 2-pyridyl-containg diarylethene provided an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) system with affluent binding site (N^N^O), which was developed for the selective and sensitive detection of Cu2+ by dual colorimetric and fluorimetric responses. A clear Cu2+-induced ratiometric colorimetric sensor with color change from light yellow to orange red and on-off fluorescence with fluorescence color change from bright cyan to deep teal was constructed. At the same time, colorimetric and fluorimetric responses to Cu2+ were both achieved at the photostationary state. Based on the obvious color change, the sensor was used for the fabrication of test strips that can be used as the standard cards for detecting Cu2+. This study is expected to facilitate and broaden the application of diarylethene derivative in tracing Cu2+ in future work.