Luminescence signalled enantiomeric recognition of chiral organic ammonium ions by an enantiomerically pure dimethylacridino-18-crown-6 ligand

Acridino-18-crown-6 ligands 1 and 2 are able to bind organic ammonium salts in acetonitrile with high affinity, causing pronounced changes in the luminescence properties of the two partners. Furthermore, enantiomerically pure chiral ligand 2 shows a high enantioselectivity towards chiral organic ammonium ions. The observed changes in the photophysical properties are also an important tool for understanding the interactions present in the adduct. The possibility of monitoring the binding process by means of such a sensitive technique as photoluminescence spectroscopy can gain ground for the design of very efficient enantioselective chemosensors for chiral species.