A diarylethene-derived probe for colorimetric detection of CN- and highly selective fluorescent recognition of I.

A new photochromic diarylethene derivative with 2-hydrazinobenzothiazole was synthesized, and its multi-controllable switch behavior was investigated in detail when triggered by light and anions. When triggered by CN-, the absorption spectra of the diarylethene showed a new band at 474 nm with an obvious color change from colorless to bright yellow. Upon addition of I-, the diarylethene compound displayed a new absorption band at 297 nm and the original absorption at 370 nm also increased, and the fluorescence intensity exhibited obvious fluorescence quenching with fluorescence color change from a light royal blue to dark. The results indicated that the diarylethene derivative exhibited naked-eye detection of CN- and the fluorescent recognition of I-.