Zinc complex of bipyridine crown macrocycle: Luminescence sensing of anions in aqueous media via the cooperative action of metal-ligand and hydrophobic interactions

A metallomacrocyclic receptor (1) based on a Zn(II) · bipyridine complex and a crown ether has been developed for luminescence sensing of anions; receptor 1 coordinates anions via the cooperative action of metal-ligand and hydrophobic interactions in aqueous media with strong fluorescence enhancement for RCOO−.