Novel benzimidazolium-urea-based macrocyclic fluorescent sensors: Synthesis, ratiometric sensing of H2PO4- and improvement of the anion binding performance via a synergistic binding strategy
A modular approach to obtain benzimidazolium-urea-based, fluorophore-appended macrocyclic receptors was developed. This class of receptors could be used as selective ratiometric fluorescent sensors for H 2PO4- due to the synergistic binding effect of benzimidazolium and urea moieties. The Royal Society of Chemistry 2013.