Adenine-based receptor for dicarboxylic acids

The adenine-based fluorescent receptor 1 was designed and synthesized for the selective recognition of dicarboxylic acids in CH3CN. The recognition takes place through the Hoogsteen binding site of adenine with concomitant PET quenching of the anthracene moiety. The carboxylic acid binding to 1 was investigated by 1H NMR, X-ray, UV–vis, and fluorescence spectroscopic methods. The Hoogsteen (HG) cleft of receptor 1 is found to be selective for glutaric acid.