Supramolecular structures with luminescent properties. Molecular recognition studies

Abstract

Supramolecular fluorescent chemosensors in water are very appealing because luminescence exhibits low detection limits and a high selectivity. Macrocyclic structures with polydentate nitrogen ligands represent a fundamental and extensive type of compounds in this group. The strategy employed in this work consists on the connection of the central amine to a naphtalene group (chromophore) and to two pyridine moieties at the end positions, to be involved in self-assembly processes giving rise to metallomacrocyclic structures. These systems can be used in molecular recognition processes. The encapsulation of the metallomacrocycles on hydrogels facilitates the use of the chemosensors in daily life applications. Furthermore, these type of compounds gives stability to the hydrogels and also photophysical acquired properties. In addition, the use of these polydentate nitrogen ligands in order to synthesize new silver and gold containing compounds, provide new tools for the recognition and/or encapsulation of molecules. Due to these properties, a synthetic way has been assayed, in order to obtain supramolecular cages with luminescent properties