Chloride- and dihydrogenphosphate-selective anion recognition by new acyclic mono-, bis- and tris-cobaltocenium receptors

Abstract

New acyclic mono-, bis- and tris-cobaltocenium receptors containing aryl, biaryl and pyridine amide moieties have been synthesized and shown from ¹H NMR anion-binding studies to exhibit chloride and dihydrogenphosphate anion-selectivity preferences dependent upon the nature of the amide substituent. The single-crystal structure of a chloride complex of one of the receptors has been determined and electrochemical investigations showed that the chloride-selective cobaltocenium derivatives electrochemically sense the halide anion in acetonitrile solution.