A novel thiourea-hydrazone-based switch-on fluorescent chemosensor for acetate

A novel sensor for acetate containing thiourea and hydrazone structure has been synthesized. The anion recognition via hydrogen-bonding interactions could be monitored by anion complexation, which induced changes in UV-vis and fluorescence spectra. In particular, the recognition process could be easily detected by the 'naked-eye'. Further insights to the nature of interactions between receptor 1 and AcO− were obtained by 1H NMR titration experiments.