New P-bridgehead urea-based tripodal anion receptors for H2PO4 recognition

A series of new P-bridgehead tripodal urea-based anion receptors 1-3 bearing phosphine oxide (PO) were synthesized and characterized. Their anion-binding ability was examined by UV-vis, ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, and ESI-MS. The results revealed that receptors 1-3 showed good sensitivity, selectivity, and binding affinity for H₂PO₄⁻ over NO₃⁻ and Br⁻, and among them receptor 2 showed the best binding affinity for H₂PO₄⁻ over F⁻, Br⁻, CH₃COO⁻, HSO₄⁻, and NO₃⁻. The Job plot experiments indicated that receptors 1-3 formed 1:1 stoichiometric complex with H₂PO₄⁻.     

A pyrene-benzthiazolium conjugate portraying aggregation induced emission,a ratiometric detection and live cell visualization of HSO3

The present study deals with the photophysical property of a pyrene-benzthiazolium conjugate R1, as a strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) probe exhibiting long wavelength emission in the red region. Unlike traditional planar polyaromatic hydrocarbons whose aggregation generally quenches the light emission, the pyrene based R1 was found to display aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property along with simultaneous increase in its quantum yield upon increasing the water content of the medium. The R1 exhibits high specificity towards HSO₃⁻/SO₃²⁻ by interrupting its own ICT producing there upon a large ratiometric blue shift of ∼220 nm in its emission spectrum. The lowest detection limit for the above measurement was found to be 8.90 × 10⁻⁸ M. The fluorescent detection of HSO₃⁻ was also demonstrated excellently by test paper strip and silica coated TLC plate incorporating R1. The live cell imaging of HSO₃^─ through R1 in HeLa cells was studied using fluorescence microscopic studies. The particle size and morphological features of R1 and R1-HSO₃⁻ aggregates in aqueous solution were characterized by DLS along with SEM analysis.     

Naked eye sensing of anions using thiourea based chemosensors with real time application

Novel chromogenic sensors with thiourea moiety as receptor unit were synthesized and characterized using IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques. The receptors 1 and 2 bearing hydrogen bonding site demonstrate visually striking color change, UV–vis, and fluorescence responses for F⁻, AcO⁻, and OH⁻ over other anions such as Cl⁻, Br⁻, H₂PO₄⁻ and HSO₄⁻. Both the receptors 1 and 2 demonstrate detection limit at micro molar level. Further insight to the nature of interaction between receptors and anions was studied using ¹H NMR titration experiment. In particular, the fluoride of tooth paste and mouthwash in water phase can be detected by receptor 2.     

Anion recognition by 2,2′-binaphthalene derivatives bearing urea and thiourea groups at 8- and 8′-positions by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies

Synthesis and anion recognition properties of 2,2′-binaphthalene derivatives bearing two thiourea (1) and urea (2) groups at 8- and 8′-positions were studied. The structure of receptor 1 was determined by X-ray crystallography. UV-vis spectra of the receptors showed characteristic changes around 300-400 nm through isosbestic points upon the addition of biologically relevant anions such as acetate, dihydrogenphosphate, and chloride in MeCN and DMSO due to restriction of the rotation around the single bond connecting two naphthyl moieties by cooperative guest binding of two recognition sites. Job’s plots showed 1:1 complexation for guest anions. The fluorescence quantum yields of free form of 1 and 2 in MeCN were determined to be 0.021 and 0.57, respectively. The fluorescence intensities of the receptors diminished upon the addition of anions in MeCN. The association constants of receptors 1 and 2 were one or two orders of magnitude greater than the corresponding monothiourea and urea receptors 3 and 4 indicating cooperative hydrogen bonding with guest anions. The selectivity trends of association of anions were F⁻>AcO⁻>H₂PO₄⁻>Cl⁻>>HSO₄⁻≈NO₃⁻≈Br⁻≈I⁻ for 1, and F⁻>AcO⁻≈Cl⁻>H₂PO₄⁻>Br⁻>HSO₄⁻>I⁻≈NO₃⁻ for 2. Receptor 2 showed remarkable Cl⁻ selectivity presumably owing to suitable orientation for effective hydrogen bond formation with Cl⁻.     

Different crystal structure and photophysical properties of lanthanide complexes with 5-bromonicotinic acid

Five novel lanthanide (Eu³⁺ (1), Tb³⁺ (2), Sm³⁺ (3), Dy³⁺ (4) and Gd³⁺ (5)) complexes with 5-Bromonicotinic acid (5-Brnic) were synthesized and two of them (Tb³⁺, Sm³⁺) were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The results reveal that {[Tb(5-Brnic)₃(H₂O)₃]·H₂O}_n (2) and [Sm(5-Brnic)₃(H₂O)₂·H₂O]₂ (3) exhibit different coordination geometries and crystal structures. Complex 2 has a one-dimensional chain-like polymeric structure through the bridged 5-Brnic anions which links up two neighboring terbium ions, while Complex 3 forms a dimeric molecular structure. The lowest triplet state energy of 5-Brnic was determined to be 24 330 cm⁻¹ corresponded to the 0-0 transition in the phosphorescence spectrum of its gadolinium complex at 411 nm. The strong luminescent emission intensities of these complexes indicated that the triplet state energy of 5-Brnic is suitable for the sensitization of luminescence of Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, Sm³⁺ and Dy³⁺, especially for that of Tb³⁺ and Dy³⁺.     

A phenanthrene-based calix[4]arene as a fluorescent sensor for Cu and F

A new phenanthrene-based fluorescent calix[4]arene (4) has been synthesized in cone conformation. This compound was examined for its fluorescent properties towards different metal ions (Na⁺, Li⁺, Mg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺) and anions (F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, H₂₄PO⁻,${{\text{H}}_2{\text{PO}}_4}^{-}\text{,}$₃NO⁻,${{\text{NO}}_3}^{-}\text{,}$₄HSO⁻,${{\text{HSO}}_4}^{-}\text{,}$ CH₃COO⁻) by fluorescence spectroscopy. The properties of the compound were evaluated and show that it is a fluorescence sensor for Cu²⁺ and F⁻. With the addition of Cu²⁺ and F⁻, the fluorescence was severely quenched.     

Anion recognition through hydrogen bonding by adamantane-dipyrromethane receptors

Adamantane-dipyrromethane (AdD) receptors [di(pyrrole-2-yl)methyladamantane (1), 2,2-di(pyrrole-2-yl)adamantane (2), 1,3-bis[di(pyrrole-2-yl)methyl]adamantane (3), 2,2,6,6-tetra(pyrrole-2-yl)adamantane (4)] form complexes with F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, AcO⁻, NO₃⁻, HSO₄⁻, and H₂PO₄⁻. The association constants of the complexes were determined by ¹H NMR titrations, whereas the geometries of complexes 1·F⁻ (2:1), 2·F⁻ (2:1), 2·Cl⁻ (2:1), 2·AcO⁻ (2:1), and 4·F⁻ (1:1) were determined by X-ray structural analysis. The most stable complexes are of 2:1 stoichiometry with F⁻ and AcO⁻. The stability constants are in accordance with the anion basicity and the ability of AdD receptors to place the hydrogen bonding donor groups in a tetrahedral fashion around anions. The binding energies of the complexes between receptors 1-4 and F⁻ anion are calculated using quantum chemical methods. The calculated results show that the solvent polarity is important for the complexation of fluoride ion with AdD receptors 1-4.     

Electrochemical detection of the explosive, hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD)

A rapid electrochemical detection scheme for the improvised explosive, hexamethylene triperoxide diamine (HMTD) is demonstrated. This is based on the hydrolysis of HMTD releasing H₂O₂ and the electrochemical redox cycling of Fe^II/IIIEDTA via the following scheme:

Fe^IIIEDTA + e⁻→Fe^IIEDTA     

Color response of tri-armed azo host colorimetric sensors and test kit for fluoride

Five new chromogenic tripodal receptors (2a-e) containing electron withdrawing and donating groups appended to the azophenol moiety were synthesized, characterized, and their chromogenic behaviors toward various anions were investigated. These tripodal receptors showed a distinct color change only when treated with fluoride ions in CH₃CN solution. Yet, other anions such as Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, NO₃⁻, ClO₄⁻, AcO⁻, HSO₄⁻, and H₂PO₄⁻ could not cause any color change. Thus, the receptors 2a-e can be used as a colorimetric chemosensor for the determination of fluoride ion. In addition, ¹H NMR experiments were carried out to explore the nature of interaction between tripodal receptors and fluoride. Finally, analytical application and the use of test strip of the receptor 2b to detect fluoride was also reported.     

Rapid determination of ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, and total vitamin C by electrochemiluminescence with a thin-layer electrochemical cell

This paper reports on a rapid and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (H₂A), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), and total vitamin C by electrochemiluminescence (ECL) using a thin-layer electrochemical cell. Significant ECL signals can be generated by the anodic oxidation of Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ in the presence of H₂A or DHA in pH 8.8 phosphate buffer solution. Because of the extremely small dead volume of the thin-layer cell (approximately 1.5 μL), almost all amount of H₂A is assumed to be completely oxidized to DHA with a short pre-electrolysis step. As a result, it is possible to determine the reductive vitamin C (H₂A) by square wave voltammetry before the pre-electrolysis step, while total vitamin C (sum of H₂A and DHA) is able to be determined at a subsequent ECL step. The method was employed for the determination of vitamin C in commercial beverages with the analytical results in good agreement with the certified values.

Synthesis of Nipagin Esters Using Acidic Functional Ionic Liquids as Catalysts

Several Brønsted acidic functional ionic liquids (FILs) with an alkane sulfonic acid group were synthesized. These FILs as dual solvent-catalysts for Nipagin esterification reactions were investigated. The results indicated that [HSO₃-pMIM]HSO₄ has the best catalytic activity and recyclability among the various kinds of FILs investigated, and its structure was characterized by infrared and NMR. The [HSO₃-pMIM]HSO₄ could be easily separated from the reaction mixture and reused without noticeably decreasing the catalytic activity.

Fluorescent sensor based on dimesitylborylthiophene derivative for probing fluoride and cyanide

A new D-π-A dimesitylboron derivative with terminal phenothiazine bridged by fluorenevinyl (PFTB) has been synthesized. It was found that PFTB could selectively recognize fluoride and cyanide anions by naked eyes. Upon addition of F⁻ and CN⁻, the color of the solution of PFTB in DCM turned to yellowish-green from yellow and strong green emitting was observed under UV light, while the emission of PFTB in DCM was weak. Moreover, the presence of 10 equiv of tetrabutylammonium salts of other anions, such as Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, AcO⁻, HSO₄⁻, H₂PO₄⁻, could not lead to obvious changes of the UV–vis absorption and the fluorescent emission spectra of PFTB. The detection limits of PFTB towards F⁻ and CN⁻ were 7.52×10⁻⁸ mol/L and 6.12×10⁻⁸ mol/L in DCM, respectively. Therefore, the D-π-A type triarylborane derivatives can be used as ‘turn on’ fluorescent sensors for detecting F⁻ and CN⁻.     

A new water-soluble metal-free phthalocyanine substituted with naphthoxy-4-sulfonic acid sodium salt. Synthesis,aggregation, electrochemistry and in situ spectroelectrochemistry

A new water-soluble metal-free phthalocyanine, 2,9,16,23-tetrakis(4-(1-naphthoxy-4-sulfonic acid sodium salt))phthalocyanine NhtH₂Pc, where Nht indicates naphthoxy-4-sulfonic acid sodium salt, was synthesized and its aggregation, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties were investigated in non-aqueous solutions. The aggregation study of NhtH₂Pc showed that NhtH₂Pc had both aggregated and non-aggregated mono phthalocyanine forms in the case of the 1:1 ratio of methanol and water, while it exhibited only the characteristic UV–Vis absorption of monomeric phthalocyanine in methanol and DMSO. NhtH₂Pc displayed three reversible one-electron reductions waves, assigned to Pc³⁻/Pc²⁻, Pc⁴⁻/Pc³⁻ and Pc⁵⁻/Pc⁴⁻ couples, respectively. The electrochemical half-wave potentials of the reduction processes were located at E_1/2 = −0.510, −0.924 and −1.24 V, respectively while the anodic potential of the oxidation process was displayed at E_1/2 = 0.590 V versus pseudo Ag/AgCl. The half-wave potentials of the first and second reductions were positively shifted by 0.150 and 0.136 V compared with those of the unsubstituted metal-free phthalocyanine (H₂Pc). These shift values are almost the same as those observed for [(SO₃)₄H₂Pc]. The electrochemical studies showed that the electron-withdrawing sulfonated-naphthoxy groups on the macrocycle core made the reduction processes of NhtH₂Pc easier in DMSO solution. The well-defined UV–Vis spectra of the electro-reduced species [NhtH₂Pc]⁻ were obtained with an applied potential (E_app = −0.70 V) in a thin-layer cell. The spectroelectrochemical results showed that the first reduction product exhibited characteristic spectral changes corresponding to mono-anionic species of metal-free phthalocyanines, having long-term stability during the reduction process.     

Integral heats of solution and enthalpies of ionization of 100% nitric acid at 298 K 3. Aqueous solutions of sulfuric acid containing 70–90% H2SO4 and ionization of HNO3 as a base

The integral heats of solution of 100% HNO₃ at =0.1mole/liter in aqueous solutions of H₂SO₄ of <90% by wt. were measured. A scheme was proposed and proved for ionization of HNO₃ as a base in 82–90% aqueous solutions of H₂SO₄, according to which un-ionized HNO₃ exists in the form of an aqueous solvate H₂O-HNO₃ and the ionized form as the ion pair NO₂ ⁺·HSO₄ ^–. The value of the enthalpy of ionization of nitric acid H(NO₂ ⁺ HSO₄ ^–)=H(NO₂ ⁺·HSO₄ ^–) drops from 2.05 at 89.99% H₂SO₄ to 0.18 kcal/mole in 84.07% H₂SO₄.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 306–310, February, 1990.     

The tunable coordination architectures of a flexible multicarboxylate N-(4-carboxyphenyl)iminodiacetic acid via different metal ions, pH values and auxiliary ligand

{[Pb₃(CPIDA)₂(H₂O)₃]·H₂O}_n1, {[Cd₃(CPIDA)₂(H₂O)₄]·5H₂O}_n2, [Cd(HCPIDA)(bpy)(H₂O)]_n3 (bpy=4,4′-bipyridine) and {[Co₃(CPIDA)₂(bpy)₃(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O}_n4 were synthesized with N-(4-carboxyphenyl) iminodiacetic acid (H₃CPIDA). In 1, the CPIDA³⁻ ligands adopt chelating and bridging modes with Pb(II) to possess a 3D porous framework. In 2D-layer 2, the CPIDA³⁻ ligands display a simple bridging mode with Cd(II). The 2D layers have parallelogram-shaped channels along a axis. With bpy ligands, the HCPIDA²⁻ ligands in 3 show more abundant modes, but 3 still displays a 2D sheet on bc plane for the unidentate bpy molecules. However, in 3D-framework 4, the bpy ligands adopt bridging bidentate at a higher pH value and the CPIDA³⁻ ligands show bis-bidentate modes with Co(II). Additionally, 2D correlation analysis of FTIR was introduced to ascertain the characteristic adsorptions location of the carboxylate groups with different coordination modes in 4 with thermal and magnetic perturbation. Compounds 1, 2 and 4 exhibit the fluorescent emissions at room temperature.     

All-cis-1,2,3,4,5,6-cyclohexanehexacarboxylate two-dimensional gadolinium(III) complexes: Synthesis,X-ray crystal structure and magnetic properties

The first gadolinium(III) complexes with the trideprotonated form of the 1,2,3,4,5,6-cyclohexanehexacarboxylic acid (H₃clhex³⁻) of formulae [Gd(H₃clhex)(H₂O)₄]_n·3nH₂O (1) and [Gd(H₃clhex)(H₂O)₄]_n·6nH₂O (2) have been prepared through the gel technique and their structures determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of 1 is made up of 6³ honey-comb layers which are generated by [Gd(H₂O)₄]³⁺ cations and H₃clhex³⁻ anions acting as three-fold nodes and three-fold connectors, respectively. The structure of 2 consists of a [4⁴,6²] two-dimensional network extended in the ac plane where the H₃clhex⁻³ groups act as four-fold connectors and the [Gd(H₂O)₄]³⁺ units as four-fold nodes. Compound 1 crystallises in a non-centrosymmetric space group P2₁. Its absolute structure could be determined reliably, indicating the spontaneous resolution of a homochiral crystal and the freezing of one of the conformations of the all-cis H₃clhex⁻³ ligand. Compound 2 crystallises in the P2₁/n space group, the presence of an inversion centre making both conformations to occur. 1 and 2 are different solvates of the same system, the latter one synthesised under a higher pH value of the gel than the former. The investigation of the magnetic properties of 1 and 2 in the temperature range 1.9–300 K reveals a Curie law behaviour for the two compounds.