Zinc(II) complex of terpyridine-crown macrocycle: A new motif in fluorescence sensing of zwitterionic amino acids

A new fluorescence macrocyclic receptor based on the Zn(II) complex of a C-2-terpyridine and a crown ether has been developed for molecular recognition of zwitterionic amino acids in water/DMF solution with remarkable selectivity towards L-aspartate (K = 4.5 x 10(4) M-1) and L-CyStei ne (K = 2.5 x 10(4) M-1). (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.