Pillar[6]arene/acridine orange host–guest complexes as colorimetric and fluorescence sensors for choline compounds and further application in monitoring enzymatic reactions

Abstract

A novel pillararene–indicator system between anionic water-soluble pillar[6]arene (WP6) and an aromatic fluorescent dye acridine orange (AO) was constructed. Upon complexation with electron-rich cavity of WP6, AO showed a fluorescence quenching and color change due to the host–guest charge-transfer interactions. The established pillararene–indicator system was further employed in the detection of choline compounds and monitoring enzymatic reactions.