The detection and quantification of both anions and cations is critical in many areas including medicine, biology and environmental science. For example, nitrate and phosphate are both known to be significant contributors to aquatic eutrophication and, particularly when sourced from agricultural runoff, are the major causes of damaging algal blooms. This presentation will describe the development of two fluorescence-based ion sensors.<br/>The anion sensor, a lanthanide-chelated terpyridine complex, is synthesized in two steps: (1) a calix[4]arene bearing carboxylic acid moieties is coupled to terpyridine-4-yl-propane-1,3-diamine and (2) subsequent chelation of Tb(III) triflate. The fluorescence of the complex is based on ligand sensitized lanthanide emission; this emission is altered in the presence of anionic species, thus allowing it to serve as a sensor for this group. The photophysical properties of the complex and anion binding studies will also be described.<br/>A diphenylanthracene compound bearing a catechol moiety serves as a cation sensor. It is synthesized by coupling a phenylboronic acid bearing methoxy groups to 9-bromo-10-phenylanthracene, followed by deprotection of the methoxy groups with HBr. Naked-eye detection, fluorescence and UV-visual studies demonstrate that this complex effectively senses metal ions through selective quenching of its fluorescence.<br/>The sensors presented herein show potential for use in visual ion detection kits.<br/>

Fluorescence-based sensors for the detection of biologically relevant ions

255th National Meeting (2018)

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