Synthesis and computational mechanistic studies of copper selective molecular receptor

Abstract

Although numerous molecular receptors for Cu²⁺ have been reported, it is not obvious to find a simple molecule as a selective receptor for Cu²⁺. Here we create a molecular receptor 4MHEB for Cu²⁺ metal ions. Observation of a new absorption band near 282 nm in UV-visible spectra and enhancement in fluorescence intensity in emission spectra justify the binding 4MHEB:Cu²⁺ binding.