Synthesis of a novel pyrene derived perimidine and exploration of its aggregation induced emission, aqueous copper ion sensing, effective antioxidant and BSA interaction properties

[Display omitted] •A new pyrene derived dihydroperimidine [2-(pyren-1-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-perimidine] was synthesized where it showed selective naked-eye, absorption and fluorescence spectral responses towards copper (Cu2+) ion in nanomolar level.•Aggregation induced enhancement in emission intensity of 2-(pyren-1-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-perimidine was reported and investigated with the help of absorption, fluorescence, life-time and dynamic light scattering experiments.•Antioxidant property of the pyrene based perimidine was established in comparison to l-ascorbic acid by studying inhibtion of DPPH assay (spectrophotometrically) and by oxidation potentials (cyclic voltammetric studies).•Interaction of the perimidine with Bovine serum albumin in Tris–HCl buffer. A new pyrene derived dihydroperimidine [2-(pyren-1-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-perimidine (1)] was synthesized and characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HRMS spectroscopic techniques. The perimidine 1 was found to be a very interesting AIE luminogen with highest emission at 4:1 water–acetonitrile mixture. Compound 1 is a selective naked eye colorimetric sensor for aqueous Cu2+ (colorless sensor turned brownish yellow upon contact with Cu2+ ion) and gives turn off fluorescence responses in excited state spectroscopy with a limit of detection in the nanomolar range. Further it is an effective antioxidant which has been validated via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay and cyclic voltammetric studies in comparison to a well-known antioxidant l-ascorbic acid. To say vehemently antioxidant 1 has proven itself 5.9 times better than l-ascorbic acid. The perimidine 1 manifested interaction with protein bovine serum albumin via quenching of its own intrinsic emission intensity in Tris–HCl buffer.