Modulating fluorescent sensing of the pyrene-based ion pair receptor by docking on graphene quantum dots

We successfully synthesized squaramide-based ion pair receptor 3, possessing a cation binding domain linked to the receptor scaffold so as act as an electron-withdrawing group and enhance anion binding. This compound was able to efficiently and cooperatively bind anions in the presence of sodium cations. Using reference compounds 1 and 2, we demonstrated that the presence of a carbonyl group on the aromatic ring significantly enhances the efficiency of anion binding. The incorporation of this group in the structure of receptor 3, combined with other strongly electron-withdrawing groups located on another aryl subunit, enabled the receptor to bind salts even in the presence of water. Furthermore, the capacity for modular synthesis of diarylsquaramides allowed to obtain sensor 4, which features a pyrene moiety directly attached to the anion-binding domain, selectively sensing dihydrogen phosphate anions. Besides the signaling feature, the presence of pyrene rings facilitated the docking of sensor 4 onto the surface of graphene quantum dots, resulting in a conjugate with improved fluorescent properties.