Synthesis and photophysical properties of a 2,2′-bianthracene-based receptor bearing two aza-15-crown-5 ethers for naked-eye detection of barium ion

As a novel chromofluorophore, 9,9′-dimethyl-2,2′-bianthracene 3 has been successfully synthesized by reductive coupling of 2-chloro-9-methylanthracene. Absorbance and fluorescence maxima of 3 can be shifted to visible-region comparing to the former 2,2′-binaphthyl-based receptors. Receptor 2 bearing aza-15-crown-5 moieties via methylene spacer provides selective UV–vis and fluorescence responses for Ba2+ due to the restriction of the conformational change through the formation of an intramolecular sandwich-complex by two azacrown ethers, resulting in the presence of Ba2+ that can be detected by naked eye in aqueous acetonitrile.