Water-induced fluorescence quenching of aniline and its derivatives in aqueous solution

Nonradiative deactivation processes of excited aniline and its derivatives in aqueous solution were investigated by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements to reveal characteristic solvent effects of water on the relaxation processes of excited organic molecules. The magnitude of nonradiative rate (k_nr) of excited aniline derivatives increased significantly in water compared to that in organic solvents (cyclohexane, ethanol, and acetonitrile). The fluorescence lifetime measurements in organic solvent/H₂O mixed solvents suggested that the fluorescence quenching in water was not due to exciplex formation but due to interactions with a water cluster. From temperature effect experiments on the fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield of aniline, N-methylaniline, and N,N-dimethylaniline, the apparent activation energies for the nonradiative deactivation rate in water were determined as 21, 30, and 41 kJ mol^-1, respectively. Upon substitution of hydrogen atoms in the aromatic ring of aniline derivatives for deuterium atoms resulted in normal deuterium isotope effect in cyclohexane, i.e. k_nr decreased by deuterium substitution, while in water the same deuterium substitution led to an increase in k_nr (the inverse isotope effect). The inverse isotope effects implied that a direct internal conversion to vibrationally higher excited states in the electronically ground state is not a dominant mechanism but the transition to a close-lying energy level, e.g. the relaxation to charge transfer to solvent (ctts) state, would be associated with the quenching mechanism in water.     

Electrochemical oxidation of some catechol derivatives in the presence of some betadicetone derivatives: mechanistic and thermodynamic study

Electrochemical oxidations of 4-methylcatechol (1), 4-tert-butylcatechol (5) and catechol (7) in the presence of different nucleophiles have been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Experimental results have been obtained by means of cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. Also the theoretical results were calculated at DFT (B3LYP) level of theory and 6–311+G (p, d) basis set. The calculated results indicate that oxidation potential of catechols (1, 5, 7) and their substituted species are directly dependent on the ?G _tot, and continuance of reactions during electrolysis is dependent on ?G _tot of produced species on the surface of electrode. The current study indicates that theoretical studies along with empirical research can be useful in displaying electrochemical reaction mechanisms.     

Quantum dot fluorescence as a function of alkyl chain length in aqueous environments

In this work, we examine the dependence of the fluorescence quantum yield of water-soluble CdSe/ZnS quantum dots on the local environment. The hydrophobicity of the local environment was modified by using different alkyl chain lengths in a set of oligo-ethylene glycols. Our results show that the quantum yield of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots is highest for the longest alkyl chain length, suggesting that a more hydrophobic environment is beneficial for generating bright, water-soluble quantum dots.     

Carboxy SNARF-4F as a fluorescent pH probe for ensemble and fluorescence correlation spectroscopies

The optical spectroscopic properties of 1,4(and 5)-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 2-[10-(dimethylamino)-4-fluoro-3-oxo-3H-benzo[c]xanthen-7-yl] (carboxy SNARF-4F), a commercial promising fluorescent pH probe, are investigated in buffered aqueous solutions in the 5.6-8.2 pH range by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. A multiexponential global analysis of the picosecond time-resolved data is performed. The nonprotonated A species decays monoexponentially (0.73 ns), while the protonated species AH decays following a biexponential law with time constants of 0.40 and 1.87 ns. A kinetic scheme is proposed to explain the observations, which involves AH in equilibrium with a species denoted Y. The nature of Y is discussed in terms of a possible structural change in the molecule producing the lactone form, although the formation of a hydrogen-bonded complex to the solvent cannot be ruled out. Finally, the ability of the dye to probe pH at the single-molecule level is explored using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of novel fluorescent molecule and its polymeric form with aniline as fluorescent and supercapacitor electrode materials

In this study, a fluorescent material, 2‐naphthyl‐4‐amino benzoate, is synthesized by the esterification of 4‐aminobenzoic acid with 2‐naphthol. This molecule is used in the bulk polymerization of aniline, which results in the formation of poly(aniline‐2‐naphthyl‐4‐aminobenzoate). For comparison, polyaniline and also poly(aniline‐4‐aminobenzoic acid) salts are prepared via bulk polymerization. Formation and properties of these polymeric materials are evaluated by Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR), ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance, matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization, UV‐Vis, Fluorescence, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission‐scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis, electrical resistance and electrochemical techniques. P(ANI‐2NA4ABA) is obtained in nanofiber morphology in 106 wt% yield with respect to the amount of aniline used with comparable conductivity of conventional polyaniline salts. This polymer salt is stable up to 220°C and indicates melting at 146°C on heating and crystal formation at 128°C on cooling. This polymer shows higher wavelength fluorescence compared to the conventional polyaniline salts. This polymer is used as an electrode material without binder, which shows a specific capacitance of 360 F g^?1 at 0.25 A g^?1.     

Two-dimensional fluorescence (excitation/emission) spectroscopy as a probe of complex chemical environments

We report a new application of fluorescence spectroscopy for the identification and characterization of chemical species in complex environments. Simultaneous collection of a dispersed fluorescence spectrum for every step of the laser wavelength results in a two-dimensional spectrum of emission versus excitation wavelengths. This two-dimensional fluorescence (2DF) spectrum yields quick and intuitive assignments of a multitude of peaks in the separate fluorescence excitation and dispersed fluorescence spectra as belonging to the same species. We demonstrate the technique with the measurement of 2DF spectra of a discharge of dilute benzene into a supersonic free jet. A multitude of rovibronic bands due to the C(2) Swan and C(3) comet bands are immediately apparent and even unreported bands can be assigned intuituvely. Custom software filters are employed to enhance or reject emission from one or the other carrier to obtain excitation spectra arising from purely one carrier, or even a specific spectral component of a single carrier. The very characteristic 2DF fingerprints of C(2) and C(3) permit identification of another unidentified species in the discharge that absorbs at 476 nm, coincident with one of the diffuse interstellar bands.     

Coumarin-malonitrile conjugate as a fluorescence turn-on probe for biothiols and its cellular expression

A nonfluorescent coumarin-malonitrile conjugate (1) was transformed into a strongly fluorescent molecule through the Michael addition of a thiol group to the α,β-unsaturated malonitrile of 1. The molecular probe has exhibited a highly selective fluorescence response toward biothiols (Cys, Hcy, GSH) with micromolar sensitivity both in vitro and in vivo.     

Two-dimensional fluorescence resonance energy transfer as a probe for protein folding: a theoretical study

We describe a two-dimensional (2D), four-color fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) scheme, in which the conformational dynamics of a protein is followed by simultaneously observing the FRET signal from two different donor-acceptor pairs. For a general class of models that assume Markovian conformational dynamics, we relate the properties of the emission correlation functions to the rates of elementary kinetic steps in the model. We further use a toy folding model that treats proteins as chains with breakable cross-links to examine the relationship between the cooperativity of folding and FRET data and to establish what additional information about the folding dynamics can be gleaned from 2D, as opposed to one-dimensional FRET experiments. We finally discuss the potential advantages of the four-color FRET over the three-color FRET technique.     

Applying the Yb3+ ion as a simple and sensitive probe to detect phosphate-containing derivatives in aqueous solution

A simple and sensitive detection method for HPO(4)(2-) and phosphate-containing derivatives in aqueous solution with a new ensemble which is prepared by mixing ytterbium chloride and pyrocatechol violet in a 2:1 molar ratio in 10 mM HEPES buffer at pH 7.0.     

Oxidation of some monosaccharides by hexavalent manganese in aqueous alkaline medium: A kinetic and mechanistic study

The kinetics of oxidation of some monosaccharides viz., D-ribose, D-xylose, and D-arabinose, D-glucose, D-fructose, D-galactose, 2-deoxyglucose, and α-methyl glucopyranoside by MnO₄^2? in aqueous alkaline medium have been studied. The rate of oxidation has been found to be first-order both with respect to [oxidant] and [sugar]. The rate is independent of [OH^?] under experimental conditions of [OH^?] > 0.5 M where the oxidant is stable. The effect of ionic strength is negligible on the rate. A mechanism involving the formation of a 5-membered cyclic intermediate complex between MnO₄^2? and 1,2-enediol form of the sugar is proposed. The intermediate complex decomposes to give products in the subsequent slow step. The involvement of 1,2-enediol form receives support from the reaction of α-methyl glucopyranoside, which exists in ring structure in alkaline solution reacting much slower than glucose with MnO₄^2? under similar conditions. Second-order rate constant k″ and activation parameters have been evaluated. The series of reactions exhibits a clear demonstration of applicability of isokinetic phenomenon where Arrhenius plots for all the reactions are found to intersect at a common point (295 K). © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Site-specific replacement of a conserved tyrosine in ribonucleotide reductase with an aniline amino acid: a mechanistic probe for a redox-active tyrosine

An aniline-based amino acid provides a powerful mechanistic probe for redox-active tyrosines, affording a general method for elucidating the sequence of proton and electron transfer events during side-chain oxidation in biological systems. Intein technology allows Y356 to be site-specifically replaced with p-aminophenylalanine (PheNH2) on the R2 subunit of the class I ribonucleotide reductase. Analysis of the pH rate profile of Y356PheNH2-R2 strongly suggests that the mechanism of long-distance intrasubunit radical transfer through position 356 proceeds with electron transfer prior to proton transfer. In addition, we propose that radical transfer through position 356 only becomes rate-limiting upon raising the reduction potential of the residue at that location and is not affected by protonation state of either the ground state or oxidized amino acid.     

Direct UVC photodegradation of imipramine in aqueous solutions: a mechanistic study

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A new cyano-substituted fluorescamine superior to its original form as a fluorescent probe for amino acid detection

Synthesis and spectral study of two new cyano-substituted fluorescamine as the fluorescent probes for amino acid detection have been carried out comparing with the original fluorescamine. Of the three compounds, the derivative with a cyano group at the meta-position on the 4-phenyl group was found to be superior to the original one in the reactivity toward some amino acids as well as the fluorescence intensity of the adducts. The fluorescent amino acid adducts were also applied to the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence system as the fluorophores, in which the derivative described above was found to be more effective also in chemiluminescence than the original one.     

Synthesis and fluorescence enhancement behavior of a novel fluorescent aqueous polyurethane emulsion DDAQ-TDI-PU

A novel fluorescent aqueous polyurethane emulsion DDAQ-TDI-PU was synthesized by blocking the anthraquinone moiety of 1,4-diamino-2,3-diphenoxyanthraquinone(DDAQ) into polyurethane chain using 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate(TDI),poly(propylene glycol) and 2,2-dimethylol propionic acid.The chain structure of DDAQ-TDI-PU was confirmed by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis analysis.Comparing to the UV-vis spectrum of DDAQ,DDAQ-TDI-PU showed a hypsochromic shift from the absorption maxima of 518,558,609 nm to 510,548,586 nm,respectively.It was found that the fluorescence intensity of DDAQ-TDI-PU emulsion was enhanced greatly comparing with that of DDAQ.The fluorescence of DDAQ-TDI-PU was very stable not only for the long term storage but also for the fluorescence quencher.     

An efficient and simple aqueous N-heterocyclization of aniline derivatives: microwave-assisted synthesis of N-aryl azacycloalkanes

[reaction: see text] An efficient and clean synthesis of N-aryl azacycloalkanes from alkyl dihalides and aniline derivatives has been achieved using microwave irradiation in an aqueous potassium carbonate medium. The phase separation can simplify the product isolation and reduce usage of volatile organic solvents.     

The synthesis and evaluation of some coumarin derivatives as fluorescent indicators of nitroreductase activity

The carbamate 8 was reacted with appropriate β‐keto esters in a Pechmann reaction giving the coumarin derivatives 9–11 bearing 4‐nitrobenzylcarbamoyl triggers. These compounds were assessed as potential indicators of nitroreductase activity.