Click-modified hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arenes as fluorometric and colorimetric dual-modal chemosensors for 2,4,6-trinitrophenol

•Click-modified hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene is developed for the first time to detection TNP.•Fluorometric and colorimetric dual-modal chemosensor for TNP.•Highly selective and sensitive are obtained and the detection limit is 70 ppb.•A novel design strategy for developing chemosensors for TNP has been demonstrated.

A new type of chemosensor-based approach to the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) is described in this paper. Two hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene-based chemosensors 1 and 2 were synthesized through click chemistry, which exhibited high binding affinity and selectivity toward TNP as evidenced by UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy studies. 1H NMR titration analysis verified that CH⋯O hydrogen bonding is demonstrated as the mode of interaction, which possibly facilitates effective charge-transfer.

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