In this critical review the use of metal-salophen complexes as anion receptors is discussed with an emphasis on the supramolecular control of selectivity derived by the presence of additional interaction sites on the ligand skeleton. Some examples of application in sensing are also reported (112 references).

The electrochemical reduction of imidazolium‐based ionic liquids (BMIm‐X) leads to the formation of corresponding N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). Owing to the peculiar reactivity of NHCs, solutions containing NHC in ionic liquid (IL) can be used in CO2 capture or in organocatalyzed reactions. It is thus important to know the stability of the carbene in the parent IL. In fact, the NHC lifetime can be influenced by the nature of the anion (X−) of the IL. To better understand the relationship between NHC lifetime (and reactivity towards CO2) and IL medium, the presence of electrogenerated NHC in the parent IL is studied by using voltammetric, infrared, and thermogravimetric analyses and by isolation of the adduct between NHC and benzaldehyde. It is thus possible to estimate the actual NHC concentration and its lifetime through voltammetric peak‐current measurements. Moreover, NHC in BMIm‐X is able to catch CO2 (yielding the adduct NHC–CO2) and, triggered by heating (60‐150 °C), to release CO2. It is proven that the half‐life of NHC and the rate of CO2 capture are both affected by the nature of X−.

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A new water-soluble uranyl-salophen complex incorporating two glucose units has been synthesized. This neutral derivative shows noteworthy binding affinity for fluoride in water thanks to the Lewis acid-base interaction occurring between the metal and the anion. Such interaction is strong enough to overcome the high hydration enthalpy of fluoride. Moreover this complex effectively binds hydrogen phosphate and exhibits remarkably strong association for nucleotide polyanions ADP(3-) and ATP(4-).