Novel Mg-responsive fluorescent chemosensor based on benzo-15-crown-5 possessing 1-naphthaleneacetamide moiety

A new fluorescent ionophore for Mg²⁺, 4′-(1-naphthaleneacetamido)benzo-15-crown-5 (1), was synthesized, and its complexation behavior in acetonitrile was investigated by means of UV and fluorescence spectrometry. In the absence of a metal ion, the naphthalene moiety showed quite weak fluorescence emission (fluorescence ‘Off’ state). On the other hand, after the addition of Mg²⁺, fluorescence emission from the naphthalene moiety increased (fluorescence ‘On’ state).     

Fe-selective naked-eye ‘off–on’ fluorescent probe: its crystal structure and imaging in living cells

Four novel rhodamine-active probes L1–L4 have been proposed and characterized as fluorescent chemosensors for Fe³⁺. An ‘off-on’ type fluorescent enhancement was observed, which was induced by the interactions between Fe³⁺ and the probe, proven to adopt a 1:1 binding stoichiometry. The recognition properties of the target compounds with metal ions have been investigated in methanol–water (1:1, v/v) solution by the fluorescence and ultraviolet spectrum. In addition, a plausible application of probes in the imaging of HepG2 (liver cells) under the condition of reoxygenation (95% air, 5% CO₂) exposed to Fe³⁺ ions was also demonstrated.     

A novel Cr turn-on probe based on naphthalimide and BINOL framework

Naphthalimide and BINOL framework based fluorescent probe NP-B was rationally designed and synthesized. NP-B exhibited ‘turn-on’ fluorescence for Cr³⁺ and high selectivity over other metal ions. 1:1 binding mode between NP-B and Cr³⁺ was proposed and the mode was verified through MALDI-TOF mass spectrum. The detection limit was calculated to be 0.20 μM, which indicated the good sensitivity for Cr³⁺.     

FRET based selective and ratiometric ‘naked-eye’ detection of CN in aqueous solution on fluorescein–Zn–naphthalene ensemble platform

We have developed a FRET-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for the detection of CN⁻ using a fluorescein–Zn–naphthalene ensemble (NFH·Zn²⁺). The sensing mechanism was ascribed by displacement approach. The chemosensor exhibits high selectivity and sensibility for CN⁻. The speculation was supported by fluorescence emission spectra, UV–vis spectrum, ¹H NMR titration experiments, and mass spectra. The interconversion of probe NFH and NFH·Zn²⁺ via the complexation/decomplexation by the modulation of Zn²⁺/CN⁻ mimics INHIBIT gate. In addition, it also shows an excellent performance in ‘dip stick’ method.     

A synthetic diamond probe for both low-energy mammography X-rays and high-energy electron therapy beams

Although diamond has been studied for dosimetry principally due to its near-tissue equivalence, its use in both low-energy X-rays and high-energy electron beams has not been reported. This report is based on dosimetric studies of a synthetic diamond probe when subjected to diagnostic mammography X-ray photons and megavoltage electron therapy beams. The probe, constructed using entirely tissue-equivalent Perspex body, was configured for radiation dose measurement in either ‘edge-on’ or ‘flat-on’ exposure geometry without having first to re-orient the diamond within the body of the detector, and it was designed to be compatible with commercial electrometer systems. The radiation response of the diamond tested showed negligible energy dependence; its minimal background signal, high sensitivity (547.52 nC Gy⁻¹ mm⁻³) and suitability for measurements in small radiation fields of steep dose gradients due to its small size make it suitable for clinical dosimetry. The presented probe has the potential advantage of replacing conventional radiation dosimeters.     

Three different fluorescent responses to transition metal ions using receptors based on 1,2-bis- and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis-(8-hydroxyquinolinoxymethyl)benzene

The dipod 1,2-bis(8-hydroxyquinolinoxymethyl)benzene (3) and tetrapod 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(8-hydroxyquinolinoxymethyl)benzene (5) have been synthesized through nucleophilic substitution of respective 1,2-bis(bromomethyl)benzene (2) and 1,2,4,5-tetra(bromomethyl)benzene (4) with 8-hydroxyquinoline (1). For comparison, 1,3,5-tris(8-hydroxyquinolinoxymethyl)benzene derivatives (7a and 7b) have been obtained. The complexation behavior of these podands towards Ag⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cd²⁺ metal ions has been investigated in acetonitrile by fluorescence spectroscopy. The sterically crowded 1,2,4,5-tetrapod 5 displays unique fluorescence ‘ON-OFF-ON’ switching through fluorescence quenching (λ_max 395 nm, switch OFF) with <1.0 equiv of Ag⁺ and fluorescence enhancement (λ_max 495 nm, switch ON) with >3 equiv Ag⁺ and can be used for estimation of two different concentrations of Ag⁺ at two different wavelengths. The addition of Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Co²⁺ metal ions to tetrapod 5 causes fluorescence quenching, i.e., ‘ON-OFF’ phenomena at λ_max 395 nm for <10 μM (1 equiv) of these ions but addition of Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ to tetrapod 5 results in fluorescence enhancement with a gradual shift of λ_em from 395 to 432 and 418 nm, respectively. Similarly, dipod 3 behaves as an ‘ON-OFF-ON’ switch with Ag⁺, an ‘ON-OFF’ switch with Cu²⁺, and an ‘OFF-ON’ switch with Zn²⁺. The placement of quinolinoxymethyl groups at the 1,3,5-positions of benzene ring in tripod 7a-b leads to simultaneous fluorescence quenching at λ_max 380 nm and enhancement at λ_max 490 nm with both Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺. This behavior is in parallel with 8-methoxyquinoline 8. The rationalization of these results in terms of metal ion coordination and protonation of podands shows that 1,2 placement of quinoline units in tetrapod 5 and dipod 3 causes three different fluorescent responses, i.e., ‘ON-OFF-ON’, ‘ON-OFF’, and ‘OFF-ON’ due to metal ion coordination of different transition metal ions and 1, 3, and 5 placement of three quinolines in tripod 7, the protonation of quinolines is preferred over metal ion coordination. In general, the greater number of quinoline units coordinated per metal ion in 5 compared with the other podands points to organization of the four quinoline moieties around metal ions in the case of 5.     

F-Induced ‘turn-on’ fluorescent chemosensor based on 1,3-alt thiacalix[4]arene

A new thiacalix[4]arene based fluorescent sensor 1 bearing two naphthyl groups has been synthesized in 1,3-alternate conformation. In the absence of fluoride ion, the receptor 1 is in ‘off-state’ showing no fluorescence emission. The presence of fluoride ion triggered the fluorescence emission to ‘on-state’. The receptor shows pronounced selectivity for fluoride ions. In THF, the presence of F⁻ ions induces the formation of a 1:1 (G:H) complex.     

Multivariate statistical study of simultaneously monitored cloud water, aerosol and rainwater data from different elevation levels in an Alpine valley (Achenkirch, Tyrol, Austria)

The present paper deals with data interpretation of monitoring of various atmospheric events (cloud water, aerosol and rainwater) at three different elevation levels at Achenkirch profile in an Alpine valley, Tyrol, Austria (Christlumkopf-1758 m, Christlumalm-1280 m and Talboden-930 m a.s.l.) by the use of principal components analysis. From October 1995 to September 1996 sampling sessions for all sites from the profile and for all events were performed for the major ions NH₄⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻-44 cases with eight variables for rainwater; 117 cases with eight variables for cloud water samples and 50 cases with seven variables for aerosol (the major ions as in rain- and cloud water but without magnesium) at any of the elevations. The aim of the multivariate statistical treatment was to extract information about latent factors determining the data structure in all of the cases in order to compare and interpret similarities and dissimilarities with respect to the elevation or the type of the atmospheric event. Four latent factors seem to explain over 85% of the total variance for almost all sites and events but the factors have different identification for the different events or sites (e.g. ‘anthropogenic’, ‘crustal’, ‘neutralization’, ‘salt’). Thus, a comparison between sites and between events becomes possible. It was found that cloud water and aerosol events are much more similar with respect to data structure (relevant to emission sources or processes of formation) than the same events and rainwater. Further, the upper sites of the profile (Christlumkopf and Christlumalm) also reveal data structure similarity differing from that of the lowest site Talboden.     

Steric effects on controlling of photoinduced electron transfer action of anthracene modified benzo-15-crown-5 by complexation with Mg and Ca

Benzo-crown ether based chemosensors linked by an amide bond at the 1-, 2- or 9-positions of anthracene rings were synthesized. Their complexation behavior with alkaline earth metal ions in acetonitrile was investigated using fluorescence, UV, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. In the absence of a metal ion, all compounds showed only very slight fluorescence emissions (fluorescence ‘off’ state) because of intramolecular charge/electron transfer process. After the complex formation with Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺, however, only the 2-position analogue gave a fluorescence ‘on’ response by inhibiting the photoinduced electron transfer. Because 2-positioned anthracene was free from steric hindrance of the crown ether ring, a strongly bent complex structure was formed with Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺, which induced a breakdown of π-conjugation between the amide moiety and the benzene ring.     

Separation of lead from high matrix electroless nickel plating waste solution using an ion-selective immobilized macrocycle system

Separation of trace levels of lead from concentrated-matrix electroless nickel plating (ENP) waste solutions is required to meet the increasingly stringent environmental regulations. A solid phase extraction (SPE) system using a molecular recognition technology (MRT) gel was used for the selective separation of trace levels of lead (Pb) from the waste discharge of ENP operations, followed by subsequent analysis with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Two SPE-MRTs, AnaLig® Pb-01 and AnaLig® Pb-02, packed in 3 mL polypropylene cartridges were used to treat the synthetic metal-waste solutions that were used to simulate the typical metal mixture in ENP bath waste. The fortified solutions contained 100-1000 μg L^− 1 of Pb in an HNO₃ matrix with pre-added Ni, Cu and other interfering elements (1000 mg L^− 1). After the sample treatment, the SPE-MRT cartridges were washed with water and 0.1 M nitric acid, followed by elution with 0.03 M EDTA. The matrix elements (e.g., Ni, Cu) were completely removed at the washing step, while the ‘captured’ Pb was quantitatively eluted, as determined by ICP-OES measurements. The detection limit of the proposed method was 2.6 μg L^− 1. ‘Real’ samples from commercial ENP operations were used to assess the validity of this method, and almost quantitative Pb recovery was observed. The excellent Pb selectivity of the SPE-MRT system indicates the potential of the proposed technique for trace-level Pb separation from the Pb-containing high matrix aqueous waste discharge.     

Fully automated immunoassay for detection of prostate-specific antigen using nano-magnetic beads and micro-polystyrene bead composites, 'Beads on Beads'

Magnetic beads have served as a conventional bioassay platform in biotechnology. In this study, a fully automated immunoassay was performed using novel nano- and microbead-composites constructed by assembling nano-magnetic beads onto polystyrene microbeads, designated ‘Beads on Beads’. Nano-sized bacterial magnetic particles (BacMPs) displaying the immunoglobulin G (IgG)-binding domain of protein A (ZZ domain) were used for the construction of ‘Beads on Beads’ via the interaction of biotin-streptavidin. The efficient assembly of ‘Beads on Beads’ was performed by gradual addition of biotin-labeled BacMPs onto streptavidin-coated polystyrene microbeads. Approximately 2000 BacMPs were uniformly assembled on a single microbead without aggregation. The constructed ‘Beads on Beads’ were magnetized and separated from the suspension by using an automated magnetic separation system with a higher efficiency than BacMPs alone. Furthermore, fully automated detection of prostate-specific antigens was performed with the detection limit of 1.48 ng mL⁻¹. From this preliminary assay, it can be seen that ‘Beads on Beads’ could be a powerful tool in the development of high-throughput, fully automated multiplexed bioassays.     

Simple and label-free electrochemical assay for signal-on DNA hybridization directly at undecorated graphene oxide

Exploring graphene oxide (GO), DNA hybridization detection usually relies on either GO decoration or DNA sequences labeling. The former endows GO with desired chemical, optical, and biological properties. The latter adopts labeled molecules to indicate hybridization. In the present work, we propose a simple, label-free DNA assay using undecorated GO directly as the sensing platform. GO is anchored on diazonium functionalized electrode through electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding or epoxy ring-opening. The π–π stacking interaction between hexagonal cells of GO and DNA base rings facilitates DNA immobilization. The adsorbed DNA sequence is specially designed with two parts, including immobilization sequence and probe sequence. In the absence of target, the two sequences lie nearly flat on GO platform. In the presence of target, probe hybridizes with it to form double helix DNA, which ‘stands’ on GO. While the immobilization sequence part remains ‘lying’ on GO surface. Hence, DNA hybridization induces GO interfacial property changes, including negative charge and conformational transition from ‘lying’ ssDNA to ‘standing’ dsDNA. These changes are monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and adopted as the analytical signal. This strategy eliminates the requirement for GO decoration or DNA labeling, representing a comparatively simple and effective way. Finally, the principle is applied to the detection of conserved sequence of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 pol gene fragment. The dynamic detection range is from 1.0 × 10⁻¹² to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ M with detection limit of 1.1 × 10⁻¹³ M with 3σ. And the sequences with double- or four-base mismatched are readily distinguishable. In addition, this strategy may hold great promise for potential applications from DNA biosensing to nanostructure framework construction based on the versatile DNA self-assembly.     

Heptakis-6-(5-methylene-thioureido-5′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridyl)-β-cyclodextrin: synthesis and metal complexation study

A new heptapode heptakis-6-(5-methylene-thioureido-5′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridyl)-β-cyclodextrin was prepared and its complexation properties towards metal cations were investigated. Substituting the urea functions by the corresponding thioureas promoted the inversion of the metal coordination selectivity. Preliminary results showed the heptapode unable to complex lanthanides but authorise selective complexation of ‘soft’ and ‘borderline’ metal cations.     

β-Diketones bearing electron-donating chromophores and a novel β-triketone: synthesis and reversible fluorescence behavior

Saturated and unsaturated β-diketones bearing 4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl substituent and a novel β-triketone were synthesized. These β-diketones exist in both cis-enol and keto forms in solution, and their relative contents were determined by ¹H NMR measurements. In contrast, for the β-triketone, only enol form was observed in a solution. A strong fluorescence quenching was observed for unsaturated diketones as compared with the saturated ones. These β-diketones displayed reversible photoinduced ketonization as revealed by UV-vis spectroscopy. The fluorescence emission of the saturated β-diketones faded gradually during UV irradiation. The fluorescence emission of these saturated β-diketones can thus be reversibly switched between the enol form ‘ON’ and the keto form ‘OFF’ based on keto-enol tautomerization.     

Step-economic and cost effective synthesis of coumarin based blue emitting fluorescent dyes

Cost effective and green protocols for the synthesis of two new series of coumarin based blue light emitting fluorophores named as ‘Beta Fluors’ and ‘Alpha Fluors’ are described. The coumarin alkylamide based Beta Fluors are developed using a one-step multi-component process in the presence of phenyl boronic acid as an efficient green catalyst. The Alpha Fluors are structured with coumarin–triazole–carboxamide peptidomimetics and their synthesis involves the ‘click with MCR’ concept. The new fluorophores gave high Stoke’s shift values for the emission wavelengths and their structural features are promising for further fine tuning to obtain preferred emission maxima.     

FRET-derived ratiometric fluorescence sensor for Cu

New N-(pyrenylmethyl)naphtho-azacrown-5 (1) was synthesized as an ‘On-Off’ fluorescent chemosensor for Cu²⁺. Excited at 240 nm corresponding to the absorption of naphthalene unit (energy donor) of 1, emission at 380 nm from pyrene unit (energy acceptor) is observed, indicating that intramolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET-On) occurs in 1. When Cu²⁺ is added to a solution of 1, however, the fluorescence of pyrene is strongly quenched (FRET-Off) whereas that of naphthalene group is revived. Such FRET ‘On-Off’ behavior of 1 is observed only in the case of Cu²⁺ binding, but not for other metal cations. The high selectivity of 1 toward Cu²⁺ can be potentially applied to a new kind of FRET-based chemosensor. The FRET On-Off behavior is supported by computational studies. The calculated molecular orbitals of HOMO and LUMOs suggest the excited-state interactions leading to FRET from naphthalene to pyrene in 1, but no electron density changes in 1·Cu²⁺ complex.     

A novel fluorescent chemosensor for Cu(II) in aqueous solution based on a β-aminobisphosphonate receptor

A novel β-aminobisphosphonate receptor has been combined with naphthalene in the fluorophore-spacer-receptor format of a typical photoinduced electron transfer (PET) based sensor. The sensor was synthesised in two steps by first reacting aminomethylnaphthalene with diethyl vinylphosphonate to produce the parent tetraester, followed by deprotection with bromotrimethylsilane to afford the desired sensor. The fluorescence emission of the sensor was observed to remain ‘On’ over a wide pH range (2-10). Cu(II) was found to bind strongly to the sensor resulting in an ‘On-Off’ fluorescent response with sensitivity in the μM range.     

A new symmetrically modified α-cyclodextrin tripode: selective metal complexation and fluorescence properties

A new tripodal α-cyclodextrin having three ureido-bipyridyl tethers symmetrically distributed on its upper rim was prepared in one step by the polymer supported ‘phosphine imide’ reaction in a medium yield. As expected, the highly selective complexation properties towards ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ cations were maintained with regards to the URFT-Cd (upper rim fully tethered) family previously investigated. Its Eu^III and Tb^III lanthanide complex fluorescence behaviour clearly indicates that a limited number of tethers allow a better bis-heterocyclic antenna self-organisation around the cation leading to enhanced fluorescence properties.     

Synthesis and structures of cadmium(II) complexes of a series of multinucleating N/S donor ligands

The coordination chemistry of a series of bis-bidentate ligands with cadmium(II) ions has been investigated. The ligands, containing two N,S-donor chelating (pyrazolyl/thioether) fragments, have afforded complexes of a variety of structural types (dinuclear M₂L₂ ‘mesocate’ complexes, a one-dimensional chain coordination polymer and a simple mononuclear complex) according to whether the bis-bidentate ligands act as bridges spanning two metal ions, or a tetradentate chelate to a single metal ion. The p-phenylene and m-biphenyl spaced ligands L¹ and L³ form dinuclear M₂L₂ complexes where the ligands are arranged in a ‘side-by-side’ fashion. In contrast the m-phenylene spaced ligand L² forms a one-dimensional coordination polymer where the ligands adopt a highly folded conformation. The 1,8-naphthalene spaced ligand L⁴ adopts a tetradendate chelating mode and affords a simple mononuclear complex.     

Sensing cyanide ion via fluorescent change and its application to the microfluidic system

We introduce a cyanide selective microfluidic platform, in which fluorescent chemodosimeter 1 displayed a selective green fluorescence upon the addition of cyanide. Our system was examined in aqueous solution, and the ‘OFF-ON’ type emission change can be monitored over 500 nm. In addition, colorimetric change was also observed upon the addition of cyanide. The practical use of the probe was demonstrated by its application to the detection of cyanide in the living cells.