Cd(II)-triggered excimer-monomer conversion of a pyrene derivative: time dependent red-shift of monomer emission with cell staining application.

An efficient fluorescent probe (E)-N1-((E)-2-((pyren-7-yl)methyleneamino)ethyl)-N2-((pyren-7-yl)methylene)ethane-1,2-diamine (L) has been synthesized by a facile one-step condensation reaction. L can selectively detect Cd(2+) in presence of other common metal ions in 0.1 M HEPES buffered DMSO-water (4 : 1, v/v) medium. The detection limit of Cd(2+) is 1.8 × 10(-8) M. Cd(2+) can effectively convert the excimer emission of L into its monomer emission which in turn exhibits a time-dependent red-shift.