A novel water soluble self-assembled supramolecular sensor based on pillar[5]arene for fluorescent detection CN− in water

•Novel pillar[5]arene-based self-assembled supramolecular fluorescent chemosensors.•Novel and way for design of chemosensor which could efficient work in water.•Supramolecular chemosensors could efficient sensing ions in water.•High selectivity and sensitivity for fluorescent detection Al3+ and CN−.•Rational introduce competitive coordination in supramolecular chemosensors.

Efficiently sensing target ions in water solution is still an intriguing challenge. Herein, we report a novel and efficient approach for high fluorescent detection ions in water by a pillar[5]arene-based supramolecular sensors. This novel approach is illustrated as follows. Firstly, water soluble cationic pillar[5]arene (P5) and acid functionalized naphthalene monoimide derivative (N2) were self-assembled in water and formed supramolecular sensor (P5N2). Then, competitive coordination was rationally introduced into the supramolecular sensor P5N2 by adding Al3+ in suit and formed new supramolecular sensor (P5N2Al). Interestingly, the supramolecular sensor P5N2 could sense Al3+ in water, while the supramolecular sensor P5N2Al could sense CN− in water with high selectivity and sensitivity, respectively. Therefore, it's a novel and facile way for the design of sensor which could efficiently sense ions in water.

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