A fluorescent sensor for Hg2+ and Ag+ functions as a molecular switch based on click-generated triazole moiety

The novel (S)-BINOL-based sensor 1 incorporating triazole moieties could be obtained by click reaction. The results show that 1 can exhibit excellent fluorescence response behaviors toward Hg2+ (selective switching-off) and Ag+ (selective switching-on) without interference from other metal ions, which functions as a molecular switch. This work can expand the application of click reaction in design and synthesis of the novel fluorescence sensor molecules.