Abstract
Two novel fluorescent chemosensors in which an aza-crown is linked to 4-coumaryl fluorophores by a methylene spacer have been synthesized for sensing saxitoxin. Fluorescence enhancement was observed upon binding of the dicationic toxin molecule, whereas several metal ions produced no effect.
Compounds
1
and
2
are able to detect saxitoxin in water in the presence of sodium and potassium ions.
