A multi-functional hydrazinobenzothiazole-based diarylethene derivative: Highly efficient discrimination cadmium ion from zinc ion and near-infrared absorption detection of hydroxide ion

A novel diarylethene derivative with hydrazinobenzothiazole unit as functional group was synthesized and its multi-controllable photoswitchable behaviors with UV/vis lights, Cd2+, Zn2+ and acid/base were investigated systematically. The results demonstrated that diarylethene derivative could serve as a “naked-eye” chemosensor to stepwise detect Zn2+ to Cd2+ and then discriminate them successfully.174