Abstract
A simple anion receptor incorporating bisamide and bispyrrole groups as recognition sites was synthesised, and its binding properties towards anions were studied by UV–vis, 1H NMR, ESI-MS spectra and theoretical calculations. This receptor exhibited a selective complexation with biologically important and F− over other anions tested in dry CH3CN. Significantly, the discrimination of these two anions could be realised via the obviously different UV–vis readouts of the receptor.