First theophylline-based ratiometric fluorescent synthetic receptor for selective recognition of dihydrogenphosphate and biological phosphate ions

We have developed a new ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor 1 based on xanthine alkaloid theophylline moiety for the detection of dihydrogen phosphate and ATP. The chemosensor 1 selectively recognizes tetrabutylammonium dihydrogen phosphate in CH3CN/H2O (9:1) by exhibiting a significant decrease in the emission of naphthalene and its sensing properties regarding ATP and other related phosphate species were evaluated. The anion binding properties of 1 were evaluated by 1H NMR, UV–vis, and fluorescence spectroscopic methods.

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