A Multi‐Component Sensor System for Detection of Amphiphilic Compounds

Many biologically important compounds are amphiphilic in character. Glycolipids, for example, represent a biologically important class of amphiphiles. Receptors and sensors for such compounds must also be amphiphilic making them a challenge to prepare. Here, a cucurbit8]uril (CB8])‐based sensor system has been prepared and tested for detection of amphiphilic compounds. This multi‐component system consists: a CB8], which acts as a hydrophobic lipid receptor, a hydrophilic pyridinium‐based carbohydrate receptor, and a fluorescent indicator. The system self‐assembles in aqueous solution. The pyridinium quenches the fluorescence of the indicator giving a strong turn‐on response when it is displaced by the analyte. The sensor system was characterized by NMR, X‐ray crystallography, and fluorescence titrations.