Fluorescence sensing of ammonium and organoammonium ions with tripodal oxazoline receptors

Abstract

graphic A new class of fluorescence sensors for ammonium and organoammonium ions has been disclosed. One of the sensors, an alaninol-derived tripodal oxazoline (1a) shows significant fluorescence enhancement upon binding NH4+ but little response toward K+, Na+, and Mg2+ ions. Owing to its chiral environment, a phenylglycinol-derived tripodal oxazoline (1b) shows chiral discrimination in fluorescence upon binding enantiomeric guests.