The synthesis of azacrown ethers with quinoline-based sidearms as potential zinc(II) fluorophores

Two novel fluorophores, and , composed of diaza-18-crown-6 ligands containing two quinoline-based sidearms which are structurally similar to Zn(II) fluorophores TSQ () and Zinquin () were synthesized as potential Zn(II) fluorophores by reductive amination of 8-benzenesulfonamido-2-quinoline carboxaldehyde and 8-benzenesulfonamido-6-quinolyloxyacetate-2-carboxaldehyde with diaza-18-crown-6 using sodium triacetoxyborohydride (NaBH(OAc)3) as the reducing agent. Preliminary photophysical properties of ligands and show that they possess the properties necessary to be effective chemosensors for Zn2+. The solid state structure of is also reported.