Novel enantioselective fluorescent sensors for malate anion based on acridine

•The novel fluorescent sensors based on acridine can enantioselective recognize malate anion.•In the binding with malate anion, the large fluorescence increase can be attributed to the PET mechanism.•The binding constants were calculated and binding mechanism was given.

The compounds L-1 and L-2 were synthesized and the interactions of all of the compounds with malate anion were studied by fluorescent titration and 1H NMR experiments. The Sensors L-1 and L-2 were found to present good enantioselective fluorescent sensing ability to malate anion. The results indicated that sensors L-1 and L-2 were very promising to be used as fluorescent sensors in determining malate anion in CH3CN.

Graphical abstractThe compounds L-1 and L-2 were synthesized and the interactions of all of the compounds with malate anion were studied in CH3CN by fluorescent titration and H NMR experiments. The Sensors L-1 and L-2 were found to present good enantioselective fluorescent sensing ability to malate anion. The results indicated that sensors L-1 and L-2 were very promising to be used as fluorescent sensors in determining malate anion in CH3CN. Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide