A highly selective fluorescent probe for Zn2+ based on a new photochromic diarylethene with a di-2-picolylamine unit

• A new unsymmetrical diarylethene with a di-2-picolylamine unit was synthesized.
• It displayed excellent photochromism in both solution and crystalline phase.
• It could be used as a fluorescence probe for the recognition of Zn2+ with high selectivity.

A new unsymmetrical photochromic diarylethene with a di-2-picolylamine unit was synthesized, and its structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The diarylethene exhibited favorable photochromism with remarkable fatigue resistance in both solution and the crystalline phase. The interaction between the di-2-picolylamine with Zn2+ caused a notable change in its fluorescence intensity, accompanied by an evident color change from the black to bright blue upon addition of Zn2+. No obvious interference was observed by performing the titrations with other metal ions. The results revealed that the photochromic diarylethene could be used as a fluorescence probe for the recognition of Zn2+ with high selectivity.

A new unsymmetrical photochromic diarylethene with a di-2-picolylamine unit was designed and synthesized to investigate its selective interaction with Zn2+. The result indicated that the diarylethene could be used as a fluorescence sensor of Zn2+ with high selectivity.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide