Two novel artificial receptors, 2, 2′-bipyridine derivatives containing phenol group, have been designed and synthesized. The interaction of the receptors containing Schiff base or its reductive system with biologically important anions was determined by UV–vis and 1H NMR titration experiments. Results indicate that receptors 1 and 2 show the strong binding ability for dihydrogen phosphate (H2PO4−), fluoride (F−), acetate (AcO−) and almost no binding ...
