First phenalenone based receptor for selective iodide ion sensing

A novel phenalenone based molecular receptor, 1,1,1-tris(1-oxophenalenyl-9-N-ethyl)amine (3) bearing PLY moiety as the fluorophore has been synthesized and characterized. A thorough study on the binding behaviour of the compound with I− and other biologically relevant anions (viz. F−, Cl−, Br−, CH3COO−, N3−, HPO42−, H2PO4−, NO3−, SO42−) in solution was performed by quantitative UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The novel compound evolved as a highly selective sensor for I− ion, discriminating all other biologically important anions in solution.