Synthesis and complexation studies of optically active aza-and diazacrown ethers containing a pyrene fluorophore unit

Novel enantiopure azacrown [(R,R)-1 and (S,S)-1] and diazacrown [(R,R)-2–(R,R)-4 and (S,S)-2–(S,S)-4] ethers containing a pyrene fluorophore unit and two phenyl groups at their chiral centers were obtained in multistep syntheses. The action of these chemosensors is based on the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process, thus they show fluorescence enhancement in the presence of protonated primary amines and amino acid esters. Their recognition abilities toward the enantiomers of 1-phenylethylamine hydrogen perchlorate (PEA), 1-(1-naphthyl) ethylamine hydrogen perchlorate (NEA), phenylglycine methyl ester hydrogen perchlorate (PGME), and phenylalanine methyl ester hydrogen perchlorate (PAME) were examined in acetonitrile using fluorescence spectroscopy.