A highly selective fluorescent probe for Cd2+ and Zn2+ based on a new diarylethene with quinoline-benzimidazole conjugated system

A novel diarylethene with quinoline-benzimidazole conjugated system was synthesized and its multi-controllable fluorescent switching behaviors with light, Cd2+ and Zn2+ were investigated systematically. The diarylethene could serve as a highly selective 'turn-on' fluorescence chemosensor for recognition of Cd2+ and Zn2+ with different binding modes.