ABSTRACT
Our interest in the development of advanced functional molecules leads to incorporation of a biological function such as a receptor into optical materials because the cooperation of those functions would produce new types of hyper-structured molecules. In this context, recently, we have been intrigued by the synthesis of chromogenic receptors that are defined dye molecules capable of binding a guest in the antenna segment. The binding of the guest induces a change in the physical properties of the chromophore as an optical sensory site which can be monitored. These optical receptors have attracted considerable attention as efficient spectrophotometric ana lytical reagents for the detection of particular species, as well as for funda mental aspects of molecular devices possessing recognition and signal sensing. This chapter is extended in two related directions: (1) the incorp oration of a certain indoaniline chromophore as an optically sensory group into calixarene platforms bearing guest-binding sites produced new types of chromogenic calixarene-type receptors; (2) a chiral calix[4]crown possess ing an optically active l,l'-binaphthyl unit and two indophenol chromophores was synthesized as a molecular sensor capable of translating a chiral recog nition event into a discernible color change. In this way, simple monitoring systems for biologically and/or chemically important species are discussed.
