Ferrocene-Appended Aryl Triazole for Electrochemical Recognition of Phosphate Ions

A neutral ferrocene-appended aryl triazole receptor 1 for phosphate anions has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystal analysis. Among various anions, 1 shows a distinct electrochemical recognition of phosphate anions by its multiple H-bonding (C-H center dot center dot center dot O) with a tetrahedral anion, which Is supported by density functional theory based theoretical calculation and H-1 NMR titration results.