Anthraquinone-1,8-Derived (Pseudo-) Crown and Lariat Ethers:Design and Applications as Fluorescent and Chromogenic Ion (Pair) Sensors.

Cyclic polyamine/ethers embedded with anthraquinone moieties and functional pendants, are structural analogues of crown ethers and (oxo-) cyclams, and could be utilized as sensitive and selective chemosensors towards metal cations. Those pseudo- (similar but geometrically distinct) crown and lariat ethers show various cation-binding patterns and stoichiometry, being modulated by donor type, cavity size and pendants' chelating ability. The luminescent and chromogenic properties also differ a lot along with the derivation of the parental macrocycle.

Sequential colorimetric sensing of cupric and mercuric ions by regulating the etching process of triangular gold nanoplates.

A triangular gold nanoplate (AuNPL)-based colorimetric assay is presented for ultrasensitive determination of cupric ions (Cu and mercuric ions (Hg) in sequence. AuNPLs were found to be etched efficiently when producing triiodide ions (I) by a redox reaction between Cu and iodide ions (I), leading to a change of the shape of AuNPLs from triangular to sphere along with a color change from blue to pink. In the presence of Hg the etching of AuNPLs was suppressed due to the consumption of I by the formation of HgI.