Apical interaction of O₂ with a square planar macrocyclic Pd(ii) complex anchored on MWCNTs gives rise to a significant electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). This finding confirms previous computational data.

Binding ability of Zn(ii) complexes of [9]aneN₃-based receptors for selective recognition of glyphosate in aqueous media.

Triamine-based receptors containing 2 anthracene units are able to signal ketoprofen in H₂O/EtOH solution via fluorescence emission enhancement, exploiting a proton transfer process upon substrate coordination.

The synthesis of a new Ru^II complex, in which the metal is coordinated by two 1,10-phenanthroline ligands and a 2,2′-bipyridyl unit linked, via methylene bridges in its 4 and 4′ positions, to two 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) macrocycles ([Ru(phen)₂L]²⁺) is reported. Protonation and Zn^II binding by [Ru(phen)₂L]²⁺ have been analyzed by potentiometric titration, evidencing the formation of mixed hetero-binuclear and hetero-trinuclear Zn^II/Ru^II complexes. These complexes were tested as bis-phenol A (BPA) binders. Only the dizinc complex with [Ru(phen)₂L]²⁺ is able to bind BPA in aqueous solution, affording a remarkably stable {Zn₂[Ru(phen)₂L]BPA(H₋₂)}⁴⁺ adduct at neutral pH, in which BPA is bound in its doubly deprotonated form to the two Zn^II ions. BPA binding was found to quench the luminescence emission of the Ru^II(phen)₂bipy core. Although the quenching effect is modest, this study demonstrates that appropriately designed dizinc complexes can be used for binding and optical sensing of BPA in water.

Among a series of polyamine-based fluorescent ligands with quinoline of 8-hydroxyquinoline, receptors with lower ability in Zn(ii) or Cd(ii) binding display the highest performance in their optical sensing.

A fluorescent acridine-containing polyamine receptor assumes upon protonation a folded conformation featuring a cleft of appropriate size for preferential binding and optical sensing of Cl⁻and Br⁻over oxo anions and I⁻.