Hg2+- and Cu2+-selective fluoroionophoric behaviors of a dioxocyclam derivative bearing anthrylacetamide moieties

New dioxocyclam derivatives bearing two anthracene fluorophores were prepared, and their fluoroionophoric properties toward transition metal ions were investigated. Chemosensor 2 having anthrylacetamide moieties exhibited pronounced Hg2+- and Cu2+-selective fluoroionophoric properties in aqueous acetonitrile solution over other representative transition metal ions, as well as alkali and alkaline earth metal ions. Chemosensor 2 also exhibited Hg2+ and Cu2+ selectivity under competitive conditions in the presence of physiologically and environmentally important metal ions. The detection limits for the sensing of Hg2+ and Cu2+ ions were 7.8 × 10−6 and 1.5 × 10−6 M, respectively, in aqueous 95% acetonitrile solution.