Synthesis, complexation, and E—Z photoisomerization of azadithiacrown-containing styryl dyes as new optical sensors for mercury cations

New styryl dyes containing azadithia-15-crown-5 fragments were synthesized. The complexation of these compounds with Ag+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, and H+ cations was studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy, steady-state, and time-resolved spectroscopy. The stability constants of the complexes were calculated from the spectrophotometric titration data. The photophysical properties and E—Z photoisomerization of styryl dyes and their complexes with mercury and copper(II) cations in acetonitrile were examined.