Combined study of anion recognition by a carbazole-based neutral tripodal receptor in a competitive environment

Anion recognition studies have been carried out on a series of neutral synthetic receptors in which carbazole-2-carboxamide has been used as building block. Different ligands which include one to three carbazole units in their structure have been prepared. Binding experiments have been performed under competitive conditions in DMSO and DMSO-water solutions. The tripodal receptor offered a better host-guest association due to the synergistic effect of a well arranged set of hydrogen bonds. A selective response towards the biologically important pyrophosphate anion has been achieved. This selectivity is enhanced when studies are carried out with an increasing water content, which gets as high…