A sugar-aza-crown ether-based fluorescent sensor for Hg(2+) and Cu(2+).

A fluorescent sensor, 5, based upon the sugar-aza-crown ether structure with two anthracenetriazolymethyl groups was prepared and its fluoroionophoric properties toward transition metal ions were investigated. In methanol, the sensor exhibits highly selective recognition of Cu(2+) and Hg(2+) ions among a series of tested metal ions. The association constant for 5.Cu(2+) and 5.Hg(2+) in methanol was calculated to be 4.0 x 10(5)M(-1) and 1.1 x 10(5)M(-1), respectively. The detection limits for the sensing of Cu(2+) and Hg(2+) ions were 1.39 x 10(-6)M and 1.39 x 10(-5) M, respectively.