No abstract

We synthesized a simple fluorescent receptor 3 bearing two boronic acid groups as recognition sites. The recognition behaviour of receptor 3 towards various anions was evaluated in THF/H(2)O (1:1, v/v) solution. Receptor 3 showed high selectivity for iodide among a series of anions. Fluorescence spectroscopy and computational calculations revealed that the electrostatic interaction played a crucial role in its high selectivity for iodide.

Two indole-based fluorescent chemosensors 1 and 2 were prepared and investigated characteristic features with transition metal ions. Sensors 1 and 2 were selective for Hg(2+) ion, among a series of metal ions, in aqueous ethanol (H(2)O-EtOH, 1:2, v/v) with association constants of 5.74 × 10(3) and 4.46 × 10(3) M(-1) and detection limits of 7.4 and 6.8 μM, respectively. Computational results revealed that sensor 1 or 2 with Hg(2+) ion formed 1:1 complex with a central, sandwich-coordinated Hg(2+) ion. Computational calculations provided evidence that a sandwich-coordinated Hg(2+) ion center was formed and the polyoxyethylene spacer acted as a scaffold for bringing functional ligands into a suitable geometry.