An Ionophore‐Based Anion‐Selective Optode Printed on Cellulose Paper

A general anion‐sensing platform is reported based on a portable and cost‐effective ion‐selective optode and a smartphone detector equipped with a color analysis app. In contrast to traditional anion‐selective optodes using a hydrophobic polymer and/or plasticizer to dissolve hydrophobic sensing elements, the new optode relies on hydrophilic cellulose paper. The anion ionophore and a lipophilic pH indicator are inkjet‐printed and adsorbed on paper and form a “dry” hydrophobic sensing layer. Porous cellulose sheets also allow the sensing site to be modified with dried buffer that prevents any sample pH dependence of the observed color change. A highly selective fluoride optode using an Al^III‐porphyrin ionophore is examined as an initial example of this new anion sensing platform for measurements of fluoride levels in drinking water samples. Apart from Lewis acid–base recognition, hydrogen bonding recognition is also compatible with this sensing platform.     

The synthesis and recognition properties of colorimetric fluoride receptors bearing sulfonamide

Two artificial receptors, 1,2-bis-p-substituted phenyl-sulfonamido-4,5-bis-nitrobenzene, have been designed and synthesized. The interactions of these receptors with halide anions are determined by UV-vis and ¹H NMR titration experiments. Results indicate that two receptors have strong sensitivity and selectivity for fluoride among halide anions. In addition, the visible color changes upon the addition of fluoride anion can make the receptors as convenient detection tools for fluoride anion.     

Preparation of fluoride anion responsive poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-borane complexes

A series of novel fluoride anion responsive materials were facilely prepared by complex formation of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) with organoboron compounds in tetrahydrofuran. After addition of fluoride anion, visual color changes of fluorescence emission from green to blue were observed. The ¹¹B NMR spectra shown that poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-borane complexes were converted to poly(N-vinylcarbazole) and fluoroborate in the presence of fluoride anion. Among the obtained poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-borane complexes prepared, poly(N-vinylcarbazole)-triethylborane complex exhibited the most distinct visual changes in fluorescence emissions.     

Long-chain ammonium fluoride salts as universal analytical reagents for total anion determination

Lipophilic quaternary ammonium cations are insoluble in water when paired with any anion except fluoride or hydroxide. This phenomenon is the basis for a novel method for total anion determination. Tetra-n-octylammonium fluoride (TOAF) is used for the direct titration of any anion or mixture of anions with the exception of hydroxide. Anions for which no direct analytical method exists, e.g., nitrate or hydrogenfluoride (HF₂^?), are simply assayed by conductimetric titration with TOAF reagent.     

含硫脲和酰胺单元的新型杯［4］芳烃中性氟离子受体

Two-armed neutral anion receptors (4,5), calix[4]arenes beating thiourea and amide binding sites, were prepared and examined their anion-binding ability by the UV-vis spectra. The results of non-linear curve fitting and Job plot indicate that 4 or 5 forms 1：1 stoichiometry complex with fluoride by hydrogen bonding interactions. Receptors 4 and 5 have an excellent selectivity for fluoride but have no binding ability with acetate, dihydrogen phosphate and the halogen anions (Cl^-,Br^-,I^-).     

Epoxy-based oligomeric probe bearing naphthalene units for selective turn-OFF fluorescent sensing of fluoride anion

A simple epoxy-based oligomer 1 bearing naphthalene unit at the chain-ends is reported to be highly selective ON–OFF type fluorescent probe for fluoride anion. The titled oligomer displayed fluorescence quenching upon addition of F^?, resulting in selective detection of fluoride anion over other anions, such as AcO^?, Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, HSO₄^?, NO₃^? and H₂PO₄^? in CH₃CN. Fluorescence experiments suggest the significant influence of the oligomer chain on the sensitivity and selectivity of 1 towards fluoride anion.     

Efficient colorimetric fluoride anion chemosensors based-on simple naphthodipyrrolidone dyes

Two novel lactam-containing compounds based on simple naphthodipyrrolidones have been developed as colorimetric sensors for fluoride anion with high selectivity and sensitivity. The two compounds can selectively act with fluoride anion and exhibit the naked-eye visible color change from purple to blue, and the detection limit could reach the concentration as low as 3.0 × 10^?6 M. The proton nuclear magnetic resonance titrations reveal the happen of intermolecular proton transfer between the hydrogen atom on the lactam N and the fluoride anion. Quantum chemical calculations indicate that the deprotonation can alleviate the distorted degree between the peripheral phenyl and the naphthodipyrrolidone core, and raise the frontier molecular orbital energy levels and decrease the band gap, rendering the protonated molecules a new more batho-chromic absorption band.     

Anion binding behavior of heterocycle-strapped calix[4]pyrroles

A comparative study of the halide and benzoate anion binding properties of a series of phenyl, pyrrole, and furan-strapped calix[4]pyrroles has been carried out. These receptors, which have previously been shown to bind the chloride anion (Yoon et al., Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 47(27):5038–5042, 2008), were found to bind bromide and benzoate anion (studied as the corresponding tetrabutylammonium salts) with near equal affinity in acetonitrile, albeit less well than chloride, as determined from ITC measurements or NMR spectroscopic titrations. This stands in marked contrast to the parent octamethylcalix[4]pyrrole, where the carboxylate anion affinities are substantially higher than those for bromide anion under identical conditions. This finding is rationalized in terms of tighter binding cavity present in the strapped systems. For all three anions for which quantitative data could be obtained (i.e., Cl^?, Br^?, PhCO₂ ^?), the pyrrole-strapped system displayed the highest affinity, although the relative enhancement was found to depend on the anion in question. In the specific case of fluoride anion binding to the pyrrole-strapped receptor, two modes of interaction are inferred, with the first consisting of binding to the calix[4]pyrrole via NH-anion hydrogen bonds, followed by a process that involves deprotonation of the strapped pyrrolic NH proton. A single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis provides support for the first of these modes and further reveals the presence of a methanol molecule bound to the fluoride anion.     

On the generation and characterization of the spiro[2,5]octadienyl anion in the gas phase

Three routes have been explored in both a high-pressure chemical ionization (CI) source and a low-pressure Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) cell to generate the spiro[2,5]octadienyl anion in the gas phase: (i) proton abstraction from spiro[2,5]octa-4,6-diene; (ii) expulsion of trimethysilyl fluoride by phenyl ring participation following fluoride anion attack upon the silicon centre of 2-phenylethyl trimethylsilane; and (iii) collisionally induced dissociation (CID) of the carboxylate anion of 3-phenylpropanoic acid via carbon dioxide loss. From comparison of the CID spectra of various reference [C₈H₉]^? ions with those of the [C₈H₉]^? ions which could be generated via the routes (i) and (iii) in the CI source it can be concluded that only the third route yields a [C₈H₉]^?ion whose CID spectrum is not inconsistent with the one expected for the spiro[2,5]octadienyl anion. In the FT-ICR cell [C₈H₉]^? ions are generated along all three routes; their structures have been identified by specific ion-molecule reactions and appear to be different. Route (i) yields an α-methyl benzyl anion, probably due to isomerization within the ion-molecule complex formed. An ortho-ethylphenyl anion is formed along route (ii), presumably due to an intramolecular ortho proton abstraction in the generated trimethylsilyl fluoride solvated 2-phenylethyl primary carbanion. The [C₈H₉]^? ion formed along route (iii) shows reactions similar to those of the 1,1-dimethylcyclohexadienyl anion which is structurally related to the spiro[2,5]octadienyl anion. Furthermore, the [C₈H₉]^? ion generated via route (iii) reacts with hexafluorobenzene under expulsion of only one hydrogen fluoride molecule which contains exclusively one of the original phenyl ring hydrogen atoms. On the basis of all these observations it is therefore quite likely that the spiro[2,5]octadienyl anion is formed by collisionally induced decarboxylation of the 3-phenylpropanoic acid carboxylate anion and can be a long-lived and stable species in the gas phase.     

Triazole-based chromogenic and non-chromogenic receptors for halides

We designed and synthesized a series of triazole-based receptors for anion recognition. Our studies demonstrated that an amide-linked triazole unit is a promising moiety for anion recognition. We synthesized various chromogenic and non-chromogenic receptors based on this moiety. Receptor 11 binds very strongly (K = 102,750 M⁻¹) to fluoride. Receptor 18 changes color from faint yellow to orange upon binding to fluoride.     

Azeotropic drying-free aliphatic radiofluorination to produce PET radiotracers in a mixed organic solvent system

Efficient aliphatic radiofluorination in a mixed organic solvent system was investigated. This method obviates the time-consuming [¹⁸F]fluoride drying step routinely required in the preparation of most fluorine-18 positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers. The [¹⁸F]fluoride ions eluted from a QMA (quaternary ammonium anion exchange) cartridge with phase transfer agents were directly mixed in various organic solvents for subsequent radiofluorination. Herein, we report the azeotropic drying-free radiofluorination of aliphatic substrates and demonstrate the viability of hydrated [¹⁸F]fluoride ions in a mixed organic solvent system for obtaining useful radiochemical yields (RCYs). This practical and simple method has demonstrated general applicability to the production of established PET tracers as well as to the rapid assessment and chemical optimization of early-stage potential radiotracers.     

Isophorone‐boronate ester: A simple chemosensor for optical detection of fluoride anion

A highly selective isophorone‐boronate ester based chemosensor, ( 1 ) , having a dicyanovinyl moiety as a convenient colorimetric probe, has been designed. Different types of anionic analyte such as CH₃COO^?, ClO₄^?, Cl^?, F^?, PF₆^?, Br^? and HSO₄^? were tested and among them only highly nucleophilic F^? anion displayed significant response towards the sensor. Addition of the fluoride anion across the boron atom disrupts the π‐conjugation thereby shifts the absorption wavelength towards the redshift region due to the decrease in the HOMO‐LUMO energy gap and a colour change from yellow to blue is observed under visible light condition. The detection limit of this probe was calculated to be 3.25 × 10^—8 M for fluoride anion. The binding constants and the detection limits of the sensor were calculated using absorption titration studies. The silica gel TLC strips dip‐coated by the chemosensor ( 1 ) revealed a colour change from yellow to brick red to naked eye.     

Complexation of fluoride anion and its ion pairs with alkali metal cations by tetra-substituted lower rim calix[4]arene tryptophan derivative

Abstract

Selective binding of fluoride anion and its alkali metal cation ion pairs by a fluorescent calix[4]arene (L) derivative bearing tryptophan moieties was studied in acetonitrile at 25 °C. It was found that LF^? and LF₂^2? complexes were formed and their stability constants were determined by means of UV and ¹H NMR titrations. Both amide and indole NH groups were involved in the stabilisation of the fluoride complexes, i.e. L afforded two anion-binding sites. ¹H NMR titrations provided evidence of simultaneous complexation of both Na⁺ cation and fluoride anion resulting in the formation of a ternary NaLF complex. In this ion pair complex, the Na⁺ cation was most probably bound primarily by the calixarene ether and amide oxygen atoms, whereas the indole NH groups interacted with the fluoride ion. A highly favourable ion pairing between Na⁺ and F^– in acetonitrile was studied using potentiometric measurements. The results pointed out the importance of fluoride pairing with alkali metal cations in aprotic organic solvents and the necessity of taking these reactions into account in the course of speciation studies of such solutions.     

Organoboron compounds as Lewis acid receptors of fluoride ions in polymeric membranes

Newly synthesized organoboron compounds – 4-octyloxyphenylboronic acid (OPBA) and pinacol ester of 2,4,6-trifluorophenylboronic acid (PE-PBA) – were applied as Lewis acid receptors of fluoride anions. Despite enhanced selectivity, the polymer membrane electrodes containing the lipophilic receptor OPBA exhibited non-Nernstian slopes of the responses toward fluoride ions in acidic conditions. Such behavior was explained by the lability of the B–O bond in the boronic acids, and the OH⁻/F⁻ exchange at higher fluoride content in the sample solution. In consequence, the stoichiometry of the OPBA–fluoride complexes in the membrane could vary during the calibration, changing the equilibrium concentration of the primary anion in membrane and providing super-Nernstian responses. The proposed mechanism was supported by ¹⁹F NMR studies, which indicated that the fluoride complexation proceeds more effectively in acidic solution leading mainly to PhBF₃⁻ species. Finally, the performances of the membranes based on the phenylboronic acid pinacol ester, with a more stable B–O bond, were tested. As it was expected, Nernstian fluoride responses were recorded for such membranes with worsened fluoride selectivity.     

Rational design of a macrocycle-based chemosensor for anions

A macrocycle-based fluorescence chemosensor has been designed and synthesized from the reaction of dansyl chloride and a hexaaminomacrocycle containing four secondary and two tertiary amines. The new chemosensor has been examined for its binding ability towards phosphate, sulfate, nitrate, iodide, bromide, chloride, and fluoride by fluorescence spectroscopy in DMSO. The results indicate that the compound binds each of the anions with a 1:1 stoichiometry, showing high affinity for oxoanions, chloride, and iodide with binding constants up to four orders of magnitude. Ab initio calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) suggest that the ligand is deformed in order to encapsulate an anion, and each anion, except fluoride, is bonded to the macrocycle through two NH?X⁻ and four CH?X⁻ interactions.     

Effect of anion doping on mobility of ionic charge carriers in solid solutions based on Ba2In2O5

In the work, mobilities of oxygen and protons are determined for F^?-substituted solid solutions based on brownmillerite Ba₂In₂O₅ and their concentration dependences are analyzed. It is found that small additives of the more mobile anion (F^? ions) promote an increase in oxygen mobility as a result of additional effects of repulsion of ions of different nature in the anion sublattice. Mobility of oxygen at high fluoride concentrations decreases due to the overlapping of migration paths of diffusion, as both anions, fluoride ions and oxygen ions, move via oxygen vacancies. Concentration dependences of mobility of proton carriers have a similar character, which is related to the effect of the oxygen sublattice. The anion doping method used in the work can be recommended as the general method for improvement of the transport characteristics of oxygen-ionic and protonic conductors with a perovskite-like structure.     

Exploiting the Strong Hydrogen Bond Donor Properties of a Borinic Acid Functionality for Fluoride Anion Recognition

Borinic acids have typically not been considered as hydrogen bond donor groups in molecular recognition. Described herein is a bifunctional borane/borinic acid derivative ( 2 ) in which the two functionalities are connected by a 1,8‐biphenylenediyl backbone. Anion binding studies reveal that 2 readily binds a fluoride anion by formation of a unique B?F???H?O?B hydrogen bond. This hydrogen bond is characterized by a short H‐F distance of 1.79(3) Å and a large coupling constant (¹J_HF) of 57.2 Hz. The magnitude of this interaction, which has also been investigated computationally, augments the fluoride anion binding properties of 2 , thus making it compatible with aqueous environments.     

Ion Interactions with a New Ditopic Naphthalimide‐Based Receptor: A Photophysical,NMR and Theoretical (DFT) Study

A new multi‐component chemosensor system comprising a naphthalimide moiety as fluorophore is designed and developed to investigate receptor–analyte binding interactions in the presence of metal and non‐metal ions. A dimethylamino moiety is utilized as receptor for metal ions and a thiourea receptor, having acidic protons, for binding anions. The system is characterized by conventional analytical methods. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of the system consist of a broad band typical for an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). The effects of various metal‐ion additives on the spectral behavior of the present sensor system are examined in acetonitrile. It is found that among the metal ions studied, alkali/alkaline earth‐metal ions and transition‐metal ions modulate the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the system. As an additional feature, the anion signaling behavior of the system in acetonitrile is studied. A decrease in fluorescence efficiency of the system is observed upon addition of fluoride and acetate anions. Fluorescence quenching is most effective in the case of fluoride ions. This is attributed to the enhancement of the photoinduced electron transfer from the anion receptor to the fluorophore moiety. Hydrogen‐bond interactions between the acidic NH protons of the thiourea moiety and the F^? anions are primarily attributed to the fluoride‐selective signaling behavior. Interestingly, a negative cooperativity for the binding event is observed when the interactions of the system are studied in the presence of both Zn²⁺ and F^? ions. NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations are also carried out to better understand the receptor–analyte binding.     

Bispyrrolylbenzene Anion Receptor: From Supramolecular Switch to Molecular Logic Gate

We have designed anion receptor 4 based on a conformationally labile bispyrrolylbenzene framework, the conformation of which can be changed by appropriate anionic stimuli. In the absence of fluoride anion, the pyrrole moieties rotate freely at room temperature. However, when the concentration of fluoride anion exceeds 2 equivalents, the rotation of the pyrrole units slows down and the conformation of the receptor changes to anti‐anti. DFT calculations have shown that this change is due to binding of a third fluoride anion through C?H interaction. Anion receptor 4 can also serve as a molecular logic gate. Anionic inputs such as fluoride and dihydrogenphosphate allow the realization of INHIBIT and NAND logic gate functions with absorption and fluorescence as readouts, respectively.     

An Unconventional Mechanistic Insight into SCF3 Formation from Difluorocarbene: Preparation of 18F‐Labeled α‐SCF3 Carbonyl Compounds

Trifluoromethylthiolation by sulfuration of difluorocarbene with elemental sulfur is described for the first time, which overrides long‐standing trifluoromethyl anion‐based theory. Mechanistic elucidation reveals an unprecedented chemical process for the formation of thiocarbonyl fluoride and also enables transition‐metal‐mediated trifluoromethylthiolation and [¹⁸F]trifluoromethylthiolation of α‐bromo carbonyl compounds with broad substrate scope and compatibility.