A new 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzonitrile (DMABN) derivative with tetrathiafulvalene unit: modulation of the dual fluorescence of DMABN by redox reaction of tetrathiafulvalene unit

A new derivative of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzonitrile (DMABN) (compound 1) with TTF unit is reported. Compound 1 exhibits dual fluorescence, and moreover the dual fluorescence behavior can be modulated by reversible oxidation and reduction of TTF unit of 1 either chemically or electrochemically. Accordingly, a new molecular fluorescence switch is realized by coupling the features of TTF and DMABN.