Four model thiosemicarbazide anion chemosensors containing three N-H bonds, substituted with phenyl and/or 4-nitrophenyl units, were synthesised and studied for their anion binding abilities with hydroxide, fluoride, acetate, dihydrogen phosphate and chloride. The anion binding properties were studied in DMSO and 9 : 1 DMSO-H2O by UV-visible absorption and (1)H/(13)C/(15)N NMR spectroscopic techniques and corroborated with DFT studies. Significant changes were observed in the UV-visible absorption spectra with all anions, except for chloride, accompanied by dramatic colour changes visible to the naked eye. These changes were determined to be due to the deprotonation of the central N-H proton and not due to hydrogen bonding based on (1)H/(15)N NMR titration studies with acetate in DMSO-d6-0.5% water. Direct evidence for deprotonation was confirmed by the disappearance of the central thiourea proton and the formation of acetic acid. DFT and charge distribution calculations suggest that for all four compounds the central N-H proton is the most acidic. Hence, the anion chemosensors operate by a deprotonation mechanism of the central N-H proton rather than by hydrogen bonding as is often reported.

A series of thiosemicarbazide anion chemosensors substituted with naphthalene and 4‐nitrophenyl or phenyl units were synthesized. The molecules were characterized by using 1H,13C DEPT and 15N NMR spectroscopy. The anion binding properties of compounds 1–4 were investigated by UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in DMSO, DMSO/H2O (9:1 v/v), and acetonitrile with hydroxide, fluoride, acetate, hypophosphate, and chloride anions. Striking color changes were observed with nitro‐containing chemosensors 2–4 with all anions, with the exception of chloride, which was attributed to an internal charge‐transfer mechanism. 1H/13C/15N NMR titration studies and DFT and charge distribution calculations support a mechanism involving deprotonation of the central N–H bond. Compound 4 with a methylene spacer between the naphthalene and thiosemicarbazide moieties was deliberately designed as a fluorescent photoinduced electron‐transfer anion (PET) sensor. However, the methylene spacer did not prevent delocalization of the HOMO orbital between the planar aromatic ring and the thiosemicarbazide unit as expected on the basis of the “fluorophore–spacer–receptor” PET model.