Bimodal calix[2]triazole[2]arene fluorescent ionophore.

ABSTRACT

Pyrene-appended calix[2]triazole[2]arene capable of bimodal sensing has been synthesized. Upon addition of Zn(2+) (or Cd(2+)), it selectively exhibits an enhanced monomeric emission (~13-20-fold) over other metal ions. On the other hand, it displays excellent selectivity for Fe(2+) over other metal ions (even over Fe(3+)) from the angle of excimeric emissions (10-fold enhancement). Density Functional Theory (DFT) based theoretical calculations distinguished the bimodal activity of the probe and supported the experimental observations.