Hinge Sugar as a Movable Component of an Excimer Fluorescence Sensor

Abstract
The ring flip of a carbohydrate is employed for the tongs-like movable component of a metal ion sensor. A pair of separated pyrene groups attached to the carbohydrate component are placed side by side when it recognizes metal ions, affording excimer fluorescence. This novel molecular sensor is selective for Zn2+ and Cd2+.