Synthesis of a ditopic homooxacalix[3]arene for fluorescence enhanced detection of heavy and transition metal ions

The fluorescence spectra changes of L suggested that the chemosensor can detect heavy and transition metal (HTM) ions ratiometrically and with variable sensitivity according to the substituents present. 1 H NMR titration experiments indicated that the three triazole ligands prefer binding with Hg 2+ , Pb 2+ and Zn 2+ , resulting in a conformational change that produces monomer emission of the pyrene accompanied by the excimer quenching.

However, the addition of Fe 3+ , which may be accommodated by the cavity of L , makes the pyrene units move closer to each other, and a discernible increase in the emission intensity of the static excimer is observed. Therefore, it is believed that the ditopic scaffold of the calix[3]arene as a specific molecular spacer here plays an important role in the blocking of the heavy atom effect of HTM ions by insulating the fluorophore from the ionophore given the long distance between the metal cation and the pyrene moiety.