Tris(8-methoxy-2-quinolylmethyl)amine (8-MeOTQA) as a highly fluorescent Zn<sup>2+</sup>probe prepared by convenient C<sub>3</sub>-symmetric tripodal amine synthesis
A convenient synthesis of C3-symmetric tribenzylamine (TBA) derivatives has been investigated. The reaction of benzyl chlorides with acetaldehyde ammonia trimer (1) in the presence of base afforded tribenzylamines in high yields. This efficient method allows the diverse synthesis of TPA (tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) and TQA (tris(2-quinolylmethyl)amine) derivatives. Among the TQA compounds prepared