Recognition of phosphate anions in aqueous solution by a dinuclear zinc(II) complex of a cyclen-tethered terpyridine ligand

A dizinc complex of 1-[4′-p-tolyl-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridyl)]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane selectively recognizes phosphate anions in aqueous solution and the recognition process can be sensed by remarkable changes in fluorescence and UV spectroscopy.

Graphical abstractA dizinc complex of 1-[4′-p-tolyl-(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridyl)]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane demonstrates a selective recognizing ability for phosphate anions, which can be sensed by fluorescence and UV spectroscopy in aqueous solution.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide