Fluorescence sensing of Cu2+ within a pseudo 18-crown-6 cavity

Pseudo-crown based receptor 1 has been designed and synthesized. The receptor 1 exhibits good sensitivity and selectivity towards copper cation over other cations such as Zn2+, Pb2+, Co2+, Fe3+, Ni2+ and alkali and alkaline earth metal cations [in acetonitrile-water (9:1 v/v)].