Novel benzimidazolium–urea-based macrocyclic fluorescent sensors: synthesis, ratiometric sensing of H2PO4− and improvement of the anion binding performance via a synergistic binding strategy
A modular approach to obtain benzimidazolium-urea-based, fluorophore-appended macrocyclic receptors was developed. This class of receptors could be used as selective ratiometric fluorescentsensors for H2PO4(-) due to the synergistic binding effect of benzimidazolium and urea moieties.