Fluorescence Turn On of Coumarin Derivatives by Metal Cations: A New Signaling Mechanism Based on C=N Isomerization

[reaction: see text] A new sensing mechanism based on C=N isomerization, which shows a very significant fluorescence enhancement to the metal cations in a simple and efficient way, is demonstrated. A coumarin derivative (L) containing a C=N group was designed as an example for illustration. The free ligand L is almost nonfluorescent due to the isomerization of C=N double bond in the excited state. However, the solution of ligand shows about a 200-fold increase of fluorescence quantum yield (about 30%) upon addition of Zn(ClO4)2.