Abstract
Three tweezer-like fluorescent sensors 1 – 3 based on acridine fluorophore were designed and synthesized. Anion binding properties of sensors 1 – 3 were studied by fluorescence, UV–vis, 1 H NMR, and HRMS. Results showed that the sensor 1 , which bears both benzimidazolium and urea groups as binding sites exhibited better anion sensing performance compared with sensors 2 and 3 containing only one kind of binding sites. Especially, it could be used as a dual-responsive selective fluorescent sensor for both H 2 PO 4 − and HSO 4 − via fluorescent bathochromic-shift and fluorescence quenching, respectively. The unique selectivity of sensor 1 towards H 2 PO 4 − and HSO 4 − could be attributed to the synergistic binding effect of benzimidazolium and urea moieties. In addition, the additional hydrogen bond between –OH in H 2 PO 4 − / HSO 4 − and the N on acridine of sensor 1 also played an important role in improving its anion binding affinities.
Published Version
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