Synthesis and binding investigations of novel crown-ether derivatives of phenanthro[4,5-abc]phenazine and quinoxalino[2′,3′:9,10]phenanthro[4,5-abc]phenazine

The synthesis and binding investigation of novel crown-ether derivatives of phenanthro[4,5-abc]phenazine and quinoxalino[2′,3′:9,10]phenanthro[4,5-abc]phenazine sensors are reported. The binding studies of these sensors with an array of alkali and alkaline-earth metals are exploited using UV–vis, fluorescence and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies.