A bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10-based fluorescence chemosensor for paraquat and diquat

A bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10-based host to which are covalently attached two pyrene groups as fluorescence chromophores was designed and synthesized. Its complexations with paraquat (PQ) and diquat (DQ) were studied by proton NMR, ESI mass spectrometry, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Its chemosensor behavior to PQ and DQ was revealed by fluorescence emission spectroscopy. This new host can function as a fluorescence chemosensor for PQ and DQ due to the inhibition of photoinduced electron transfer between the bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10 moiety and the pyrene groups by the addition of PQ (or DQ).