A two-photon excited luminescence of water-soluble rhodamine-platinum(II) complex: fluorescent probe specific for Hg2+ detection in live cell

The first example of cyclometalated platinum(II)-containing rhodamine probe (1) with two-photon induced luminescent properties was synthesized and investigated for mercury detection. A highly selective color change of 1, from light yellow to pink, is observed only in the presence of Hg²⁺ due to the formation of 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring in 2. This selectivity of Hg²⁺ with color changes can be observed easily by the naked-eye. Meanwhile, a remarkable turn-on and selective 20-fold fluorescent enhancement of 1 upon binding with Hg²⁺ over the other tested metal ions was observed. The water-soluble probe 1 was successfully applied in the visualizing of the site of Hg²⁺ accumulation as well as estimating of trace amounts of mercury ions in live HeLa cells by two-photon microscopy.     

Fluorescent chemosensor for Cu2+ ion based on iminoanthryl appended calix[4]arene

Calix[4]arene based podands 1a of cone conformation and 1b of 1,3-alternate conformation possessing imine units and bearing anthracene moieties have been synthesized by a 1 + 2 Schiff base condensation in good yields and examined for their cation recognition abilities towards cations such as lithium, sodium, potassium, nickel, cadmium, copper, zinc, lead, silver and mercury ions by UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The calix[4]arene derivative 1b shows a selective fluorescence enhancement in presence of Cu²⁺ ions among the various metal ions tested (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions). The colour of the solution changes from colourless to light yellow in the presence of Cu²⁺ ions. The stoichiometry of the complex formed between 1b and Cu²⁺ was found to be 1:1 as established by Job’s plot.     

New fluoro- and chromogenic chemosensors for the dual-channel detection of Hg and F

Two novel thioxanthone-based compounds 1a and 1b which possess thiosemicarbazone as binding site were developed for the dual-channel detection of Hg²⁺ and F⁻. Upon treatment with Hg²⁺ and F⁻ separately, the probes’ fluorescence is effectively quenched, meanwhile 1a and 1b show evident naked-eye color variations after addition of F⁻: colorless to yellow. They both exhibit specific sensitivity and selectivity for Hg²⁺ or F⁻ over other examined ions in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution.     

A highly selective and sensitive fluorescein-based chemodosimeter for Hg2+ ions in aqueous media

A new fluorescein-based chemodosimeter (II) for Hg²⁺ ion was designed and synthesized, and it displayed excellent selective and sensitive toward Hg²⁺ ion over other commonly metal ions in aqueous media. II was a colorless, non-fluorescent compound. Upon addition of Hg²⁺ to the solution of II, the thiosemicarbazide moiety of II would undergo an irreversible desulfurization reaction to form its corresponding oxadiazole (IV), a colorful and fluorescent product. During this process, the spirocyclic ring of II was opened, causing instantaneous development of visible color and strong fluorescence emission in the range of 500-600 nm. Based on the above mechanism, a fluorogenic Hg²⁺-selective chemodosimeter was developed. The fluorescence increase is linearly with Hg²⁺ concentration up to 1.0 μmol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 8.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ (3σ). Compared with the rhodamine-type chemodosimeter, II is more stable in aqueous media and exhibits higher sensitivity toward Hg²⁺. The findings suggest that II will serve as a practical chemodosimeter for rapid detection of Hg²⁺ concentrations in realistic media.     

A simple pyrene-based highly sensitive turn-on fluorescent chemodosimeter for Hg2+

A highly sensitive fluorescent turn-on probe specific for mercury ion has been developed on the basis of mercury ion-promoted hydrolysis of a pyrene-1-carbaldehyde hydrazone (1). The chemical conversion of 1, catalyzed by Hg²⁺ ions, was studied by using UV, fluorescence and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, which clearly showed the conversion of 1 to highly fluorescent compound 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde (2).     

Determination of mercury(II) by surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy based on thiol-functionalized silver nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) modified with sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (mesna) exhibit strong surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Their specific and strong interaction with heavy metal ions led to a label-free assay for Hg(II). The covalent bond formed between mercury and sulfur is stronger than the one between silver and sulfur and thus prevents the adsorption of mesna on the surface of Ag NPs. This results in a decrease of the intensity of SERS in the presence of Hg(II) ions. The Raman peak at 795?cm^?1 can be used for quantification. The effect of the concentration of mesna, the concentration of sodium chloride, incubation time and pH value on SERS were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the intensity of SERS decreases with increasing concentration of Hg(II). The decrease is linear in the 0.01 and 2?μmol L^?1 concentration range, with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.996 and detection limit (S/N?=?3) is 0.0024?μmol L^?1. The method was successfully applied to the determination of the Hg(II) in spiked water samples.

A new fluorescent turn-on chemodosimeter for mercury ions in solution and its application in cells and organisms

Using the Hg²⁺-induced desulfurization reaction of thiosemicarbazide derivative, we designed and synthesized a novel “turn on” coumarin-based fluorescent probe L with a simple structure for detecting mercury ion (II). Spectroscopy revealed that the probe responds selectively to mercury ions over other metal ions with marked fluorescence enhancement. Detection of Hg²⁺ was effective at pH 7.0–9.5, with high selectivity and significant effect in HeLa cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells and Escherichia coli, but no cytotoxicity. This probe could be an ideal and practical Hg²⁺ probe with important biological significance.     

Study on the interaction between dinaphthosulfide-substituted macrocyclic diamides and some metal ions: experimental measurements vs. quantum mechanical calculations

Complexation properties of dinaphthosulfide-substituted macrocyclic diamides 1 and 2 with some metal cations that have been obtained by conductometric method are described with quantum mechanics calculations. To do this, the most stable structures of ligands, Hg²⁺-ligand complexes, ligand-MeOH and ClO₄ ^?–MeOH are optimized at HF/Lanl2dz level of theory and the most important interactions are analyzed by atoms in molecules (AIM) theory. These calculations predict the existence of strong interaction between Hg²⁺ cation and ligands 1 and 2, particularly, S–Hg²⁺ interaction. The different conductometric behaviors of complexation of ligands 1 and 2 with metal ions are interpreted on the basis of the calculated intramolecular hydrogen bonds in ligands and intermolecular hydrogen bonds between ligands and methanol as a solvent and perchlorate as a counter ion. In addition, binding energies between Hg²⁺ and ligands are also calculated by HF/Lanl2dz level of theory. Results show that all theoretical predictions are in line agreement with the experimental data.     

Synthesis and metal extraction behavior of pyridine and 1,2,4-triazole substituted calix[4]arenes

Three series of heterocycle substituted calixarenes, derivatized at lower and upper rim, were synthesized and successfully evaluated for metal extraction towards alkali, alkaline, transition and heavy metal ions. The presence and placement of sulfur, heterocycle functionality at upper/lower rim played a crucial role toward the extractability and selectivity of metal ions. The lower rim substituted calixarenes have shown high extractability and poor selectivity. In contrast to this, upper rim substituted calixarenes exhibited good selectivity. Moreover, sulfur functionalized calixarenes have shown better selectivity for heavy metal ions than alkali and alkaline metal ions. Among upper rim substituted calixarenes, 17 and 18 were found to be suitable for Na⁺, K⁺ and Ag⁺, 19,13 for heavy metal ions i.e., Pb²⁺, Hg⁺, Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺, and 11,12 for Pb²⁺ and Ag⁺ only.     

A bifunctional,colorimetric and fluorescent probe for recognition of Cu2+ and Hg2+ and its application in molecular logic gate

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A new rhodamine-based fluorescent chemosensor for transition metal cations synthesized by one-step facile condensation

A new rhodamine-based fluorescent chemosensor (1) for transition metal cations was synthesized by one-step facile condensation of rhodamine B and 2-aminopyridine. Without metal cations, 1 is colorless and nonfluorescent, whereas addition of metal cations (Fe³⁺, Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Fe²⁺) leads to an obvious color change to pink and an appearance of orange fluorescence.     

Synthesis and metal ion complexation of acyclic Schiff base podands with lipophilic amide and ester end groups

A series of acyclic Schiff base podands 14?C19 with lipophilic amide and ester end groups were synthesized in good yield and in a simple way. Their transition metal ions complexation was studied using conductometric method in acetonitrile (AN) at 25 °C. Schiff base podands 14?C16 showed a continuous decrease in the molar conductances in their complexation with Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ which begins to level off at a mole ratio of 1:1 crown-to-metal indicating the formation of a stable 1:1 complexes. The order of the stability constants of the metal ions studied with the Schiff base podands 14, 15 and 16 is: Hg²⁺ > Pb²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Ag⁺. Metal ion complexation by acyclic diamide or diester podands involves presumably the oxygen atoms of the carbonyl groups in addition to the nitrogen atoms of the imino groups.     

Spectrophotometric determination of trace mercury(II) in cereals with 2,4-bis(4-phenylazophenylaminodiazo)benzenesulfonic acid

A simple and low cost method for the determination of mercury has been developed. The method was based upon the highly sensitive color reaction of mercury(II) ions with 2,4-bis(4-phenylazophenylaminodiazo)benzenesulfonic acid (BPPABSA). We found that in the presence of 2.0% Triton X-100, the reagent reacts with mercury to form a stable red complex in a borax buffer solution at pH 10.22. The formed complex shows an absorption maximum at 530 nm. The apparent molar absorptivity is 2.18 × 10⁵ L/mol cm. The content of mercury in the sample was low and some foreign ions might interfere with the determination of mercury(II), so we used sulfhydryl dextran gel (SDG) to separate and enrich trace mercury(II), which lead to a satisfactory result. Under the optimal conditions, Beer’s law is obeyed in the range of 0–15 μg/25 mL Hg²⁺, the detection limit and relative standard deviation are 0.86 ng/mL and 1.4–3.8%, respectively. The method has been applied to the determination of mercury in cereals with satisfactory results.     

Three one-dimensional chains with bulky backbone carboxylate ligands: Syntheses,crystal structures,and luminescent properties

To explore the influence of bulky backbone on complexes, three Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes with phenanthrene-9-carboxylate (L¹), 9H-fluorene-9-carboxylate (L²) or biphenyl-4-carboxylate (L³) together with incorporating auxiliary bridging ligad 4,4′-bipyridine (4Bipy), were synthesized and characterized: [Co(L¹)₂(4Bipy)(H₂O)₂]_∞ (I), [Zn(L²)₂(4Bipy)_0.5(4Bipy)_0.5]_∞ (II), and [Zn₃(L³)₄(4Bipy)_0.5(4Bipy)_0.5(4Bipy)_0.5(OH)₂]_∞ (III). X-ray single-crystal diffraction analyses show that complexes I–III both assume one-dimensional (1D) structures by incorporating the bridging 4Bipy (CIF file CCDC nos. 942729 (I), 942727 (II), and 942733 III). In I, mononuclear six-coordinated Co²⁺ ions are linked into a 1D linear chain by 4Bipy. While in II, mononuclear four-coordinated Zn²⁺ ions are linked into a 1D zigzag chain by 4Bipy. But in III, because of the existence of OH^?, hexanuclear Zn(II) can be regarded as a node, then bridge adjacent hexanuclear Zn(II) nodes by almost parallelled three 4Bipy ligands into a 1D linear chain. Finally the 1D chains of I–III are further assembled into an overall three-dimensional (3D) framework via intermolecular H-bonding, π…π stacking, and/or C-H…π supramolecular interactions, respectively. The results indicate that, besides different metal ions Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺ or OH^? anions, the steric hindrance of backbone ligands play an important role in the formation of I–III. Moreover, the luminescent properties of corresponding ligands and their complexes were briefly investigated.     

Copper complexes of two isomeric NS2-macrocycles

Two isomeric NS₂-macrocycles incorporating a xylyl group at ortho (o -L) and meta (m -L) positions were employed and their copper complexes (1?C5) were prepared and structurally characterized. The copper(II) nitrate complexes [Cu(L)(NO₃)₂] (1: L = o -L, 2: L = m -L) for both ligands were isolated. In each case, the copper center is five-coordinated with a distorted square pyramidal geometry. Despite the overall geometrical similarity, 1 and 2 show the different ligand conformation due to the discriminated packing pattern. Reaction of o -L with copper(II) perchlorate afforded complex 3 containing two independent complex cations [Cu(o -L)(H₂O)(DMF)(ClO₄)]⁺ and [Cu(o -L)(H₂O)(DMF)]²⁺; the coordination geometry of the former is a distorted octahedron while the latter shows a distorted square pyramidal arrangement. In the reactions of copper(I) halides (I or Br), o -L gave a mononuclear complex [Cu(o-L)I] (4) with a distorted tetrahedral geometry, while m -L afforded a unique exodentate 2:1 (ligand-to-metal) complex [trans-Br₂Cu(m-L)₂] (5) adopting a trans-type square-planar arrangement.     

A convenient synthesis of new thiaazacrown ethers and study of their complexation reactions with some transition metal cations in binary acetonitrile–chloroform mixture using the conductometric method

Three novel thiaazacrown ethers 1, 2 and 3 were synthesized in a simple way and in high yield. The complex formation between Ag⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Cd²⁺ metal cations with thiaazacrown ethers 1, 2 and 3 have been studied in acetonitrile:chloroform (1:1) binary solvent system using conductometric technique. The conductance data show that the stochiometry of the complexes with Ag⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ cations is 1:1 (L:M), but in the case of Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ cations, a 1:2 (L:M) complex is formed in solutions. The formation constants of the resulting 1:1 complexes were determined from the molar conductance-mole ratio data at 25 °C. It was found that the stability constants of 1-Ag²⁺, 2-Ag⁺ and 3-Ag⁺ complexes are higher than those of their corresponding Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ complexes and found to vary in order 3 > 1 > 2 for Ag⁺.     

Dimerization of 2-pyridylisonitriles produces π-extended fused heteroarenes useful as highly selective colorimetric and optical probes for copper ion

A very simple synthesis of pyrido[2″,1″:2′,3′]imidazo[4′,5′:4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines 2 was achieved from the dimerization of 2-pyridylisonitriles. The optical responses of these π-extended fused heteroarenes to a series of metal ions were investigated by means of UV-visible absorption spectrum in acetonitrile. It was found that most of compounds 2 selectively responded to Cu²⁺, and the limit of detection was about 3.5×10⁻⁷ M when using the best probe, 3,9-dimethylpyrido[2″,1″:2′,3′]imidazo[4′,5′:4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 2d. Meanwhile some compounds 2 specifically showed a color change from colorless to red or yellow when they are exposed to copper ion in acetonitrile, whereas other transitional, alkali and alkaline earth metal ions could not induce a color change. This work not only established a direct access to π-extended fused heteroarenes, but also supplied novel sensitive and selective colorimetric and optical probes for copper ion.     

Ferrocene-based novel electrochemical chemodosimeter for mercury ion recognition

A new ferrocene-based electrochemical chemodosimeter (1) for mercury(II) ion was prepared and characterized by X-ray crystal analysis. Among various metal ions, 1 displays highly selective electrochemical signaling changes for Hg²⁺ over other metal ions in regard to a mercury-promoted intramolecular cyclic guanylation of thiourea.     

Synthesis, characterization, and X-ray crystal structures of copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes with Schiff base

New copper(II) complexes, [Cu₂L¹L²] · ClO₄ (I) and [Ni(L³)₂] (II), where L¹ is the monoanionic form of 2-[1-(2-emthylaminoethylimino)ethyl]phenol, L² is the dianionic form of N,N′-ethylene-bis(2-hydroxyacetophenonylideneimine), L³ is the mono-anionic form of 2-(1-iminoethyl)phenol, were prepared and characterized using elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. In complex I, the Cu(1) atom is coordinated by the NNO tridentate ligand L¹ and the two phenolate O atoms of L², forming a square pyramidal geometry. The Cu(2) atom in complex I is coordinated by the NNOO tetradenate ligand L², forming a square planar geometry. The Ni atom in complex II is coordinated by two phenolate O and two imine N atoms from two ligands L³, forming a square planar geometry. In the crystal structure of I, the perchlorate anions are linked to the dinuclear copper(II) complex cations through intermolecular N-H...O hydrogen bonds. In the crystal structure of II, the mononuclear nickel complex molecules are linked through intermolecular N-H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a trimer.     

Copper(II) template synthesis of a new N2S2-donor macrocycle incorporating a pendent pyridyl substituent

The synthesis of the new potentially pentadentate ligand, 2,2??-(2-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-diyl)bis(sulfanediyl)diethanamine (L ¹ ), containing two thioether sulfurs, two ?CNH₂ amines and a pyridyl nitrogen heteroatom is described. Reaction of L ¹ with copper(II) chloride and addition of hexafluorophosphate anion has led to isolation of the mixed anion complex Cu₂(L ¹ )₂Cl(PF₆)₃. The synthesis and X-ray structure of cobalt(III) species, [Co(L ¹ )Cl](PF₆)₂, is also reported. In situ reaction of L ¹ with copper(II) as a metal template in the presence of formaldehyde and the carbon acid nitroethane together with triethylamine (as base) led to macrocycle ring closure to yield [Cu(L ² )Cl]PF₆ (where L ²  = 6,13-dimethyl-6-nitro-13-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,11-dithia-4,8-diazacyclotetradecane) whose X-ray structure shows that the copper centre has a distorted square pyramidal coordination geometry being bound by both ?CNH₂ nitrogens and both sulfurs of L ² while the pyridyl nitrogen remains uncoordinated.