Cyclic benzobisimidazolium derivative for the selective fluorescent recognition of HSO4 -via a combination of C-H hydrogen bonds and charge interactions

Abstract

In this study, a novel fluorescent cyclic benzobisimidazolium derivative was designed and prepared for the selective recognition of HSO4 -. Pre-organization, neutral C-H hydrogen bonds and charge interactions play key roles in recognizing HSO4 - in aqueous solution. Spectroscopic studies, including UV-vis and fluorescence, showed that this cyclic receptor exhibited high selectivity in response to HSO4 -. X-Ray crystal data, NMR data and theoretical calculations are presented to explain its unique binding mode. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2013.