This talk will describe the development of modular, inherently fluorescent receptors based on a functionalized aklynyl-arene scaffold as "supramolecular" hosts for small molecules and ions. A new class of urea receptors will be described that form 1:1 complexes with halides and other anions. This receptor class 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. Protonation enhances binding, alters the binding selectivity, and provides a colorimetric indication of anion binding. Fundamental studies on the nature of interactions between anions and their hosts and on designing new hosts to bind soft anions specifically will be discussed. Investigations into the nature of the CH---anion hydrogen bond and efforts to target “non-traditional” anions will also be described. Emerging applications in selective anion binding, sensing anions in wet and polar solvents, and development of sensor devices using these supramolecular receptors will be discussed. A particular emphasis in this talk will be to describe efforts (and surprising discoveries along the way) that seek to transfer these basic science results into deployable sensors for the detection of anions in complex media. This talk will conclude with an outlook on the inclusion of these receptors into membrane components in sensor devices to enable applications in precision agriculture and other industrial sectors.

Supramolecular receptors for anions: Emerging applications in industrial and agricultural sensing

256th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.