Novel “turn on” fluorescent sensors based on anthracene and carbazone units for Cu (II) ion in CH3CN-H2O

Two novel anthracene-based receptors containing Schiff base and urea groups (AOC and ATC) were synthesized in one step and full characterized. The optical properties of receptors AOC and ATC towards metal ions were investigated by UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. It was found that both receptors AOC and ATC show highly selectivity towards Cu2+ over other 17 metal ions in CH3CN-H2O (9/1, v/v).