A highly selective fluorescent probe for detection of Cd and HSO based on photochromic diarylethene with a triazole-bridged coumarin-quinoline group.

A novel photochromic diarylethene containing a quinoline-linked 3-aminocoumarin Schiff base unit (1O) was synthesized and used for the selective detection of Cd and HSO . The synthesized probe exhibited a straightforward response for the selective detection of Cd. Its fluorescence emission red-shifted ∼126 nm and was enhanced 24.9 fold in the presence of Cd. Meanwhile, the fluorescence color of 1O changed from dark cyan to golden yellow. The binding stoichiometry between 1O and Cd was determined to be 1 : 1. A molecular logic circuit with three inputs and one output was successfully constructed with its light and metal-responsive behaviors. In addition, 1O was able to selectively recognize HSO with a 135-fold enhanced fluorescence emission and a notable fluorescence color change from dark cyan to bright cyan. The H NMR and mass spectrometry analyses suggest that the HSO sensing of 1O is based on the hydrolysis of the Schiff base group of 1O.