A simple 1,10-phenanthroline-based fluorescent receptor in solution and 1,10-phenanthroline in solid state for urea recognition

1,10-phenanthroline-based fluorescent chemosensor has been designed and synthesized for the recognition of urea and 1,3-dimethyl urea in CH3CN. Interactions of this compound with urea and 1,3-dimethyl urea are studied with UV–visible and fluorescence spectroscopic methods. 1,10-phenanthroline was found to be capable of distinguishing urea from 1,3-dimethyl urea. The formation of a highly stable hydrogen bonded complex between 1,10-phenanthroline and urea was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.