Selective detection of dihydrogen phosphate anion by fluorescence change with tetraamide-based receptors bearing isoquinolyl and quinolyl moieties.

Novel fluororeceptors 2 and 3 based on tetraamide bearing 1-isoquinolyl and 2-quinolyl moieties were designed and synthesized. Highly selective and significant changes in the UV-vis and fluorescence spectra of the receptors upon the addition of H(2)PO(4)(-) were found. In particular, receptor 3 bearing 2-quinolyl groups shows selective and nearly perfect quenching by H(2)PO(4)(-), whereas 3 shows small or no fluorescence changes by another anion.