A naphthalimide-calixarene as a two-faced and highly selective fluorescent chemosensor for Cu2+ or F-

A new naphthalimide-calix[4]arene was synthesized as a two-faced and highly selective fluorescent chemosensor for Cu2+ or F-. This chemosensor displayed a selective fluorescence quenching effect only with Cu2+ among the various metal ions. On the other hand, among the various anions, the title chemosensor displayed a selective fluorescence quenching effect only with F-. The binding mode with F- was further investigated using fluorescence changes and H-1 NMR experiments. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.