Nitrite selective anion receptor based on 1-methyl-1H-perimidine

A new anion receptor 1, which utilizes only C-H hydrogen bonding have been designed and synthesized. This receptor utilizes both aromatic C-H (two perimidine C2-H, anthracene 9-H) and aliphatic C-H (two perimidine 1-methyl C-H, two benzylic C-H) as hydrogen bonding moieties. The receptor 1 is found to have considerable binding affinity for weakly basic anions even in polar solvent such as DMSO. In addition, receptor 1 is selective for nitrite. The experimental data from UV-vis, fluorescence and 1H NMR titration are consistent with theoretical studies. The order of the interaction of the C-H groups of perimidine containing receptor with NO2− anion is found to be perimidine (C-H)>methylene (C-H)>methyl (C-H)>anthracene (C-H).

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