Tris(triazole) tripodal receptors as selective probes for citrate anion recognition and multichannel transition and heavy metal cation sensing.

The three-armed pyrenyl-triazole receptor 1 behaves as a highly selective fluorescent molecular sensor for citrate anions over similar carboxylates such as malate or tartrate. In addition, this receptor senses Cu(2+) cations through absorption and emission channels even in the presence of Hg(2+) metal cations. The related three-armed ferrocenyl-triazole receptor 2 behaves as a highly selective dual (redox and chromogenic) chemosensor molecule for Pb(2+) metal cations.