Proceedings - Interdisciplinary Center for Nanotoxicity

Conference on Current Trends in Computational Chemistry 2009
Sensing of anions with a simple hexaaminomacrocycle
functionalized with dansyl groups
Kalpana R. Dey and Md. Alamgir Hossain
1 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University,
Jackson, MS 39217, USA
Anions play numerous indispensable roles in biological and chemical processes, as well as
contribute significantly to environmental pollution. For instance, the majority of enzyme
substrates and co‐factors are anions. Excess amounts of anionic pollutants such as phosphate
and nitrate lead to eutrophication and consequent disruption of aquatic life cycles. Radioactive
pertechnetate from the nuclear fuel cycle may also contribute to pollution. Over the last two
decades, there have obviously been much efforts in the design of anion complexing reagents
(1). Because of the significant roles played by anion in the different areas of science, the
development of selective sensors for anions is desirable toward practical application.
Fluorescent chemosensors attract particular attention because of their high selectivity,
sensitivity, and simplicity (2). During the course of our study, we developed a new fluorescent
sensor hexaaminomacrocycle bearing dansyl group for anions. The central amines of the ligand
were charged, that was found to interact both halides and oxoanions in DMSO. The sensing
ability of this ligand has been studied by fluorescenct titration method. The results demonstrate
that the receptor exhibits strong selectivity for phosphate over other anions.
References
1. Fluorescent anion complexation agents, David Curiel, Elizabeth J. Hayes and Paul
D. Beer, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford,
South Parks Road, Oxford;
2. R. Martinew‐Manez, F. Sancenon, Fluorogenic and chromogenic chemosensors
and reagents for anions, Chem. Rev. 103 (2003) 4419‐4476.
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