A new class of receptor is described that can selectively bind to the solvent exposed surface of proteins such as cytochrome c and lysozyme with low micromolar affinity over cytochrome c551, α-lactalbumin, myoglobin and RNase A, under physiologically relevant conditions (5 mM phosphate, pH 7.4). The use of anthracene as a hydrophobic scaffold allows the receptor to act as a selective chemosensor via fluorescence quenching or FRET. The ...