Anion binding by tert-butanesulfinamide based phenol receptors

A series of tert-butanesulfinamide type compounds, which decorated with phenol receptors, were found can recognize chlorine ion (Cl−), nitrate ion (NO3−) and acetate ion (AcO−) by 1H NMR titration experiments. The results indicated that the interaction between subject molecule and anion was enhanced with the increase of the acidity of the phenolic O-H group. Furthermore, the t-butyl group seemed to play a role in the anion recognition.