For alkali metal cation sensing in aqueous dioxane solution, a novel dibenzo-16-crown-5 (DB16C5) fluoroionophore 1, N-(pyren-1-yl)-sym-(propyl)dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxyacetamide, has been synthesized. Examination of fluorescent behavior for 1 in 4∶1 1,4-dioxane–water (v/v) containing tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) reveals that proton dissociation of the carboxamido moiety is promoted by Na+ binding, which results in an emission ratio response due to internal charge transfer (ICT) from the donor carboxamido anion to the pyrene acceptor. The emission intensity ratio (I459
/I387) increases with enhancement of the Na+ concentration. No fluorescent response is induced by the presence of Li+, K+, or Cs+. This high Na+ selectivity is attributed to a preorganized structure of DB16C5 lariat ether binding site in which Na+ binds tightly to the carbonyl oxygen of the side arm to induce selective proton dissociation. Thus a ratiometric emission response with high Na+ selectivity has been obtained for 1 in 4∶1 1,4-dioxane–water (v/v) containing TMAOH.
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