Abstract
This paper reports the synthesis of a new molecule, 5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid 2,3-bis(3-phenylureido)phenyl ester (1), as an optical probe for anions. The effect of the presence of various anions on the spectroscopic properties of 1 was examined using UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence and 1H NMR titration experiments. Strong binding of 1 to carboxylate, oxalate, cyanide and dihydrogen phosphate anions resulted in an increase in the emission of 1 and changes in its 1H NMR chemical shifts. Binding constants of 1 to anions were also calculated based on the binding isotherms derived from the spectroscopic titrations.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for the financial support of the American University of Sharjah, UAE (FRG11-02-07).
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.