Abstract
A simple anion receptor (i.e. salicylaldehyde-indole-2-acylhydrazone) was synthesised and its recognition properties were investigated by naked-eye observation, UV–vis titration spectra, 1H NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The obtained results indicated that this receptor could realise the selective colorimetric sensing and absorption ratiometric response towards AcO− in CH3CN–DMSO medium, by virtue of threefold intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions formed with phenolic OH, indole NH and amide NH.
Acknowledgement
Financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21161005) is deeply acknowledged.