Highly selective Al(3+) probe based on Calix[4]arene Au(I) isocyanide scaffold

Abstract

The development of chemosensors for the selective binding of various biological and environmental relevant cations has gained considerable attention in recent years with their great potential applications. The majority of the work in this area relies on signal transduction via photoinduced electron transfer, photoinduced charge-transfer or Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Previous works by our group have demonstrated the novel concept of the utilization of the on-off switching of Au•••Au interactions for metal ion sensing [1,2]. As an extension of our previous work involving the use of Au•••Au interactions for metal ion sensing, a bis-alkynyl calix[4]arene Au(I) isocyanide complex has been synthesized and characterized, and demonstrated to show selective binding towards Al3+ [3]. The unique mode of signal transduction by the switching on of Au•••Au interactions to give a visual luminescence change from green to red color has been demonstrated.