Synthesis and photophysical behavior of thia-aza macrocycles with 9-anthracenylmethyl moiety as fluorescent appendage

1,3-Bis(bromomethyl)-2-methoxy-5-methylbenzene, 1,3-bis(bromomethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene, 1,3- and 1,4-bis(bromomethyl)benzene undergo nucleophilic substitution with methyl mercaptoacetate to provide respective diesters 6–9. These diesters (6–9) on stirring with bis(3-aminopropyl)amine and diethylenetriamine in methanol–toluene (1:1) mixture undergo intermolecular cyclization to give respective thia-aza macrocycles 10–15. The alkylation of macrocycles 10–13 with 9-anthracenylmethyl chloride gave amine N-(anthracenylmethyl) substituted macrocycles 16–19. The extraction profile of macrocycles 10–15 towards alkali (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺), alkaline earth (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺), Ag⁺, Tl⁺ and Pb²⁺ picrates shows preferential extraction of Ag⁺ with these macrocycles. The macrocycles 16–19 show fluorescence spectrum typical of anthracene moiety and depending on their structures exhibit 0–80 times increase in fluorescence on addition of transition metal ions. Fluorescent receptors 16, 17, and 19 are capable of functioning as a very efficient multi input OR logic gate.

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Graphical abstract 1,3- and 1,4-Bis(bromomethyl)benzene and its substituted derivatives undergo nucleophilic substitution with methyl mercaptoacetate to provide respective diesters 6–8. These diesters (6–8) on stirring with bis(3-aminopropyl)amine in methanol–toluene (1:1) mixture undergo intermolecular cyclization to give respective thia-aza macrocycles 10–12. The alkylation of macrocycles 10–12 with 9-anthracenylmethyl chloride gave amine N-(anthracenylmethyl) substituted macrocycles 16–18. The macrocycles 16–18 exhibit 0–80 times increase in fluorescence on addition of transition metal ions.