Sulfonamide and urea-based anions chemosensors

• Two sulfonamide and urea-based compounds were successfully constructed.
• They showed high selectivity towards cyanide and fluoride ions in CH3CN.
• They only exhibited large changes in fluorescence in the presence of cyanide ions in CH3CN–H2O (95:5, v/v).
• The compound having long alkoxyl chains could form a gel in DMSO.

The detection of anions has attracted considerable interest because of their importance in various physiological processes. In this study, two sulfonamide and urea-based compounds (1a and 1b) were successfully developed and their spectroscopic and anion recognition properties were fully investigated. These results showed that: (1) compounds showed high selectivity towards cyanide and fluoride ions in CH3CN; (2) compounds only exhibited a large change in fluorescence in the presence of cyanide ions in CH3CN–H2O (95:5, v/v); and (3) compound 1b could act as a gel in dimethyl sulfoxide that transforms into a homogeneous solution upon exposure to cyanide ions. This research suggests that sulfonamide and urea can act as hydrogen-bond donors and provides an alternative approach to the design of novel anion chemosensors.

Two sulfonamide and urea-based compounds were successfully developed and their spectroscopic and anion recognition properties were fully investigated. This research suggests that sulfonamide and urea can act as hydrogen-bond donors and provides an alternative approach to the design of novel anion chemosensors.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide