Simple receptors for the recognition and solubilisation of insoluble tartar
ic acid in chloroform were designed and synthesised for the first time. Rec
eptors 2 and 3 were successful in solubilising tartaric acid into chlorofor
m forming a 1:1 complex, and were also found to be useful as fluorescent pr
obes for the detection of this substrate. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al
l rights reserved.