On the basis of biphenyl (b) type molecules bpb-R substituted with a 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine acceptor (bp) and either amino-type donor receptors (R = dimethylamino (DMA), A15C5 = monoaza-15-crown-5) or nonbinding substituents (R = CF(3), H, OMe) of various donor strengths, we developed a family of charge transfer (CT) operated monofunctional and bifunctional fluorescent sensors for protons and metal ions. These molecules are designed to communicate the interaction of an analyte with the acceptor and the donor receptor differing in basicity and cation selectivity by clearly distinguishable spectral shifts and intensity modulations in absorption and in emission as well as in fluorescence lifetime. From the dependence of the fluorescence spectra, fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence lifetimes of bpb-R on solvent polarity and proton concentration, the photophysics of bpb-R and their protonated analogues can be shown to be governed by the relaxation to a CT state of forbidden nature and by the switching between anti-energy and energy gap law type behaviors. This provides the basis for analytically favorable red shifted emission spectra in combination with comparatively high fluorescence quantum yields. Accordingly, bpb-H and bpb-OMe are capable of ratiometric emission signaling of protons. bpb-DMA reveals a protonation-induced ON-OFF-ON switching of its emission.

Taking into account the structural requirements for TICT-type sensor molecules, a general synthetic route to derive pH and cation-responsive pretwisted donor (D)-donor (D) biphenyls (b) equipped with donor receptors is developed and a first model compound containing a mono aza-15-crown-5 and a DMA receptor is synthesized, see Scheme 1. The spectroscopic properties of this new bifunctional D-D biphenyl are studied in the non-polar and polar solvents cyclohexane, acetonitrile, and methanol. Protonation as well as complexation studies are performed with the representative metal ions Na(I), K(I), Ca(II), Ag(I), Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), and Pb(II) to reveal the potential of this molecule for communication of whether none, only one, or both binding sites are engaged in analyte coordination by spectroscopically distinguishable outputs. The results are compared to those obtained with closely related donor (D)-acceptor (A) substituted biphenyl-type sensor molecules and are discussed within the framework of neutral and ionic D-A biphenyls.