Cu2+ ion-induced self-assembly of pyrenylquinoline with a pyrenyl excimer formation

Synthesis of a novel pyrene derivative sensor (1) and its intermolecular binding pattern to Cu(2+) in CH(3)CN were investigated. Upon Cu(2+) binding, the sensor exhibited a strong static excimer emission at 460 nm, along with a weak monomer emission at 388 nm. The excimer emission intensity induced by the Cu(2+) ion declined as the spacer length between the pyrene and quinolinylamide unit increased. The Cu(2+) ion-induced self-assembled pyrenyl excimer formation is rationalized by fluorescence experiments and theoretical DFT calculations.