A Multi-armed Neutral Receptor for α,ω-Dicarboxylate Anions

Abstract

A multi-armed neutral anion receptor (1) bearing multiple amide and thiourea binding sites was synthesized. Receptor 1 forms 1:2 complexes with dicarboxylate anions, and the sensitivity for recognition of dicarboxylate depends strongly on the chain length of these dicarboxylate anions. Addition of the anions caused a considerable change in the absorbance and fluorescent intensity of the host solution and a consequent visible color change.

Keywords:

• Anion receptor
• Dicarboxylate
• Recognition
• UV–vis spectrum
• Fluorescence

Acknowledgements

We thank the National Natural Science Foundation for financial support (Grant Nos 20072029 and 20372054).