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Biguanides, anion receptors and sensors
Mariia Pushina1, Pavel Anzenbacher
1Department of Chemistry and Center for Photochemical Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA. pavel@bgsu.edu.
Abstract:
Biguanides are strong bases (pKa > 10), their protonated forms bind anions and may therefore act as receptors for anions. We report on easy-to-make anion receptors and fluorescence-based sensors utilizing the biguanide moieties that respond to the presence of anions with a change in fluorescence. The observed changes in fluorescence are anion-specific and even though the biguanide receptors are cross-reactive, these sensors may be used to identify various anions (halides, carboxylates, phosphates). Paper-based analytical arrays were used to assess the discriminatory ability of the sensors in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of multiple anions.
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