title: Fluorescence sensing of anions based on inhibition of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer.
abstract: Condensation of 2-(2'-aminophenyl)benzoxazole with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride and phenyl isocyanate yields two new anion sensors (TABO and PUBO), which can undergo excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) upon excitation. For the acid receptor TABO, the ESIPT process can be readily disturbed by basic anions such as F-, CH3COO-, and H2PO4- by deprotonating the sulfonamide unit, whereas in the case of PUBO, a good hydrogen-bonding donor, the ESIPT process is inhibited either by the fluoride-induced deprotonation of the urea unit or by the formation of a strong CH3COO--urea intermolecular hydrogen bond complex, and these two types of inhibition mechanisms consequently result in different ratiometric responses. But other anions with less hydrogen-bonding acceptor abilities cannot inhibit the ESIPT. Interestingly, the different inhibition abilities of F-, CH3COO-, and H2PO4- produce different spectral behaviors in PUBO, so this new sensor successfully distinguishes the subtle difference in these three anionic substrates of similar basicity and surface charge density.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 158 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116012, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yunkou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jiangli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Shang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Maozhong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Jianzhang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shiguo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry*; D003116:Color; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011522:Protons; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011522:Protons