Highly Selective Chemical Vapor Sensing by Molecular Recognition: Specific Detection of C1-C4 Alcohols with a Fluorescent Phosphonate Cavitand

Fiat lux on alcohols: Molecular-level resolution was achieved for the detection of short-chain alcohols in the vapor phase using a fluorescent cavitand sensor. The transduction mechanism, activated exclusively by the complexation mode, is provided by the change of the electronic density on the fluorophore caused by the formation of an intracavity hydrogen bond between the cavitand P-O and the alcohol OH group.