Anthracene coupled trans-pyridylcinnamide: a new fluororeceptor for selective sensing of dicarboxylates

trans-Pyridylcinnamide has been established as an alternative hydrogen bonding synthon, in place of urea for carboxylate binding. This alternative motif has been used in the design and synthesis of new fluorescent ‘On–Off’ signalling chemical sensor 1, which is found to bind aliphatic dicarboxylates with moderate binding constants. The recognition ability has been established by fluorescence, UV–vis and 1H NMR spectroscopic methods. The receptor is found to be selective for long chain pimelate.