Synthesis, Characterization And Properties Of Several Optical And Redox Active Receptors

Investigation on photo- and electrochemical recognition is an area of increasing interest. It is great important to both supramolecular chemistry and materials science. The optical- and redox-active receptors are widespread in many fields such as ion transport, molecular switches, chemical molecular devices and chemical sensors. Therefore, a study on synthesis, characterization and properties of several optical- and redox-active receptors containing ferrocene or quinoline units was carried out. The main results are as follows:1. Recent research progress of calixarene based optical- and redox-active receptors, including molecular design, synthesis and their applications in supramolecular recognition and sensing properties, was briefly reviewed.2. Three novel receptors R1-R3 containing ferrocene unit were successfully synthesized. The recognition and sensing properties of these receptors were studied by the cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis techniques. It was found that 1,2,3-triazole-linked ferrocene receptors R1, R2 show a high selectivity for sensing of H3O+ ions. In addition, R1 also displays selective recognition function towards H2PO4- ion. However, carbonyl-bridged ferrocene receptor R3 exhibits selectivity only for electrochemical sensing of Hg2+ ions.3. Two novel receptors R4 and R5 bearing quinoline group were prepared. Their recognition and sensing properties were examined by the UV-vis and fluorescence titration techniques. The receptor R4 has a good selectivity for fluorescent sensing of Ag+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ ions. However, R5 shows no selectivity for fluorescent sensing of Ag+, Ca2+ ions. Therefore an interesting molecular switch was design using receptor R4.4. Two new cluster compounds possessing C2Mo2 core R6 and R7 were synthesized. Their molecular structures and electrochemical properties were investigated.5. A total of 7 novel optical- and redox-active receptors were synthesized, and fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS spectroscopies, as well as for two calixarene derivatives and one cluster compound being determined by X-ray diffraction techniques.