This talk will describe the development of modular, inherently fluorescent receptors as hosts for small molecules and ions.  These new fluorescent anion receptors are based on a difunctionalized 2,6-alkynylpyridine scaffold.  A sulfonamide-functionalized derivative forms a 2:2 dimer with both water or halides (Cl-, Br-) depending on the protonation state of the pyridine ring.  This is a rare example of both halides and water molecules serving the same structural hydrogen bonding roles in a synthetic self-assembled system.  This receptor class also exhibits tunable �off-on� or �on-off� fluorescence in the presence of anions, depending on the placement of electron-donating and -withdrawing groups on the periphery of the host.  A new class of urea receptors that forms 1:1 complexes with halides will also be described.  Protonation enhances binding over one order of magnitude, alters the binding selectivity, and provides a colorimetric indication of anion binding.  Emerging applications in selective anion binding, sensing anions in wet and polar solvents, and fluorescent redox sensing will be discussed.

Modular fluorescent receptors: Applications as molecular probes  and functional materials

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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