クロモジェニックレセプター : カチオン認識から不斉認識へ  [in Japanese] Chromogenic Receptor : from Cation Recognition to Chiral Recognition  [in Japanese]

This article describes our recent achievements in developing synthetic chromogenic receptors which are characterized by combined "recognition" and "optical sensing" functions. The focus is on preparation and some intriguing properties of several kinds of azomethine-derived calixarenes : this work is extended in two related directions, the incorporation of indoaniline-type chromophores as an appropriate optical sensory group into calixarenes bearing a guest-binding site produced new types of receptors for optical sensing against cations. Second, a chiral calix [4] crown containing an optically active 1, 1' -binaphthyl subunit and two indophenol chromophores was synthesized as a molecular sensor which is capable of translating an enantioselective molecular recognition event into a discernible color change. A simple monitoring system for biologically and/or chemically important species is discussed.