Colorimetric macrocyclic anion probes bearing nitrophenylurea and nitrophenylthiourea binding groups

Abstract

Two novel molecular probes bearing two urea (sensor 1) or thiourea (sensor 2) groups (as anion recognition site) coupled with a nitrophenyl group (chromogenic unit) were synthesized and evaluated according to the binding site-signaling subunit approach.The behavior of these different compounds toward metal ions (Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+) and anions (F−, Cl−, Br−, I−, ClO4−, NO3−, CN−, OH−, CH3COO−, and H2PO4−) was investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy in DMSO.