Hinge Sugar as a Movable Component of an Excimer Fluorescence Sensor

Abstract

[reaction: see text] The ring flip of a carbohydrate is employed for the tongs-like movable component of a metal ion sensor. A pair of separated pyrene groups attached to the carbohydrate component are placed side by side when it recognizes metal ions, affording excimer fluorescence. This novel molecular sensor is selective for Zn(2+) and Cd(2+).