Phenanthroline-based fluorescence sensors for Eu³⁺ ion and subsequent enantioselective discriminating of malate

A pair of novel chiral fluorescent and colorimetric sensors L1 and D1 had been designed and synthesized, which were based on phenanthroline as the fluorophore and mandelohydrazide as the binding site. They showed selective recognition toward Eu³⁺ ion as ‘turn-off’ mode in DMSO-H₂O solution (v/v = 1:5, 10 mM HEPES, pH = 7.4). The fluorescence discrimination towards chiral carboxylate anions had been studied for L1-Eu³⁺ and D1-Eu³⁺ complex and they showed good enantioselective recognition ability towards malate as ‘turn-on’ mode. The interaction of sensor L1, D1 with Eu³⁺ and L1-Eu³⁺, D1-Eu³⁺ towards malate caused different color changes in the naked eye.