Chemosensing of neurotransmitters with selectivity and naked eye detection of l -DOPA based on fluorescent Zn( ii )-terpyridine bearing boronic acid complexes

B NMR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence), MS-ESI experiments, crystal structures, and DFT calculations, the binding mode between Zn(ii)-chemosensors and l-DOPA is proposed in a 1 : 1 model through a cooperative two-point recognition involving the reversible esterification of the boronic acid moiety with the aromatic diol fragment of l-DOPA together with the coordination of the carboxylate anion to the Zn(ii) atom with strong electrostatic contribution.