Luminescence signalled enantiomeric recognition of chiral organic ammoniumions by an enantiomerically pure dimethylacridino-18-crown-6 ligand

Acridino-18-crown-6 ligands 1 and 2 are able to bind organic ammonium salts in acetonitrile with high affinity, causing pronounced changes in the lumi nescence properties of the two partners. Furthermore, enantiomerically pure chiral ligand 2 shows a high enantioselectivity towards chiral organic amm onium ions. The observed changes in the photophysical properties are also a n important tool for understanding the interactions present in the adduct. The possibility of monitoring the binding process by means of such a sensit ive technique as photoluminescence spectroscopy can gain ground for the des ign of very efficient enantioselective chemosensors for chiral species.