Synthesis and characterization of novel urea and thiourea substitute cyclotriphosphazene compounds as naked-eye sensors for F− and CN− anions

Novel hexakisurea and thiourea cyclotriphosphazene compounds (3–7) were synthesized. The structure of all compounds was identified using FT-IR 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR spectroscopy; MALDI-TOF MS; and elemental analysis. The optical sensor properties for anions of 3–7 were investigated using UV-Vis spectroscopy. It was determined that compounds 6 and 7 are spectrophotometric and naked eye sensors for F− and CN− anions, respectively. Sensor properties of these compounds for anions were investigated using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The stoichiometry of host–guest complexes was found to be 1:6.