Azacrown-oxabridged macrocycle: a novel hybrid fluorogenic chemosensor for transition and heavy metal ions.

A novel hybrid of azacrown ether-oxabridged fluorogenic chemosensor (1) has been synthesized: the metal ion binding ability of the hybrid molecule shows higher affinity towards transition metal ion Zn(2+) and heavy metal ion Hg(2+) compared to the parent azacrown ether which shows poor metal ion selectivity: the binding modes of the Zn(2+) and Na(+) towards have been discussed.