N-anthracenylmethyl calix[4]azacrowns as new fluorescent ionophores

Two novel calixarene-based fluoroionophores were synthesized. Their conformations were confirmed to 1,3-alternate by X-ray crystal structures. From CHEF by blocking the PET mechanism in fluorescence spectra, we observed In 3 + and Pb 2 + ion selectivity over other metal ions. For In 3 + ion, calix[4]-bis-azacrown-5 showed about 20 times more sensitive than calix[4]-mono-azacrown-5 because the source of the binding selectivity comes from the calixarene framework and azacrown ligand by controlling the fluorescence and PET mechanisms associated with the amine moiety.