Multi-addressable fluorescence switch based on a new photochromic diarylethene with two rhodamine B units

A novel diarylethene derivative with two rhodamine B units has been synthesized successfully. The diarylethene could be effectively controlled by the stimulation of light, proton, and metal ions. The fluorescence intensity of the diarylethene was enhanced upon addition of TFA, Al3+, Cr3+, and Fe3+, which was assigned to the blocked FRET process by the protonation of the rhodamine or complexation with Al3+, Cr3+, and Fe3+. The results indicated that the diarylethene could act as a multi-addressable fluorescence switch with the light, proton, and metal ions stimulus. Moreover, two logic circuits were constructed with the fluorescence intensity as the output signal responding to the light and chemical species as the inputs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.