A highly selective fluorescent chemosensor for guanosine-5′-triphosphate via excimer formation in aqueous solution of physiological pH

Abstract

A new water-soluble and fluorescent imidazolium-anthracene cyclophane 1 effectively recognizes and differentiates the biologically important GTP and ATP in 100% aqueous solution of physiological pH 7.4. Fluorescence, (1)H-NMR spectra and ab initio calculations demonstrate that excimer formation and fluorescence enhancement occur upon GTP and ATP binding, respectively, through (C-H)(+)···A(-) hydrogen bond interactions.