Lewis Acid-Triggered Spatiotemporally Controllable Ring Opening in a Classic Rhodamine Featuring Φ = 95% Emission

Rhodamine derivatives, as a prominent class of fluorophores, have become indispensable in advanced material engineering and biomedical research due to their exceptional photostability and tunable optical characteristics. However, their practical implementation faces fundamental challenges: conventional proton-mediated spirolactone ring opening mechanisms severely compromise fluorescence performance, while conventional structural optimization approaches remain synthetically demanding with limited efficacy. We hereby present a novel Lewis acid-assisted activation strategy that enables reversible spirolactone ring opening in classical rhodamine systems. This innovative approach achieves remarkable fluorescence enhancement characterized by superior quantum yields (up to 95%) and prolonged excited state lifetimes. Notably, the Lewis acid coordination establishes precise photocontrol over the ring opening process. This breakthrough represents the first demonstration of a nondestructive activation pathway for rhodamine fluorophores, effectively converting the nonemissive spirolactone form into highly luminescent Lewis acid complexes while maintaining molecular integrity.