Dual-response colorimetric sensor array for the identification of amines in water based on supramolecular host–guest complexation

Amines have been found as a challenging compound class in previous works on chemical tongues. Herein, we describe the successful application of libraries based on host–guest inclusion complexes in cyclodextrins (CDs) and cucurbiturils (CBs) for the discrimination of primary, secondary, tertiary, aliphatic and aromatic as well as linear and branched amines in water. Besides the clear need for new detection, identification and quantification techniques of organic compounds in water, the main advantage of our approach is that an array made by combining six simple basic dyes with seven commercial organic capsules allows a perfect discrimination among 14 amines (see list in Table S1 in Supplementary data) with only very subtle structural differences.