Insights into the AIEE of 1,8‐Naphthalimides (NPIs): Inverse Effects of Intermolecular Interactions in Solution and Aggregates

Systematic structural perturbation has been used to fine‐tune and understand the luminescence properties of three new 1,8‐naphthalimides (NPIs) in solution and aggregates. The NPIs show blue emission in the solution state and their fluorescence quantum yields are dependent upon their molecular rigidity. In concentrated solutions of the NPIs, intermolecular interactions were found to quench the fluorescence due to the formation of excimers. In contrast, upon aggregation (in THF / H₂O mixtures), the NPIs show aggregation‐induced emission enhancement (AIEE). The NPIs also show moderately high solid‐state emission quantum yields (ca. 10–12.7 %). The AIEE behaviour of the NPIs depends on their molecular rigidity and the nature of their intermolecular interactions. The NPIs 1 – 3 show different extents of intermolecular (π–π and C?H???O) interactions in their solid‐state crystal structures depending on their substituents. Detailed photophysical, computational and structural investigations suggest that an optimal balance of structural flexibility and intermolecular communication is necessary for achieving AIEE characteristics in these NPIs.     

A correlation between spin state and electrochemical electron-transfer rate for tris(N,N-disubtituted dithiocarbamato) iron(III) complexes

The electrochemical electron-transfer rate constants for the redox systems Fe(IV)L₃⁺/Fe(III)L₃ (L=N,N-disubstituted dithicarbamate ion) and Fe(III)L₃/Fe(II)L₃^? with a variety of substituents were measured at a platinum electrode in acetonitrile with the galvanostatic double-pulse method. It is known that each of the Fe(III) complexes exists both in a highspin state ⁶A₁ and a low-spin state ²T₂ in equilibirium of which position is widely changed by a subtle change in substituent. The standard rate constants for Fe(IV)L₃⁺/Fe(III)L₃ were larger or smaller than those for Fe(III)L₃/Fe(II)L₃^? according as the Fe(III)L₃ complexes are predominantly low- or high-spin complexes. Since the Fe(IV) and Fe(II) complexes are low-and high-spin complexes respectively, these findings suggest that electrochemical electron-transfer reactions accompanied by a spin-state change are slower than those without it. Such spin-state effect on electrode reactions has rarely been discussed so far.     

Novel fluorescent N,O-chelated fluorine-boron benzamide complexes containing thiadiazoles: Synthesis and fluorescence characteristics

A series of N-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)benzamide derivatives and their corresponding BF₂ complexes were synthesized, and their photophysical properties were determined. The effect of the derivatives with various substituents on the benzamide ring and phenyl-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole ring were examined in different organic solvents and in the solid state. These dyes enjoy a series of excellent photophysical properties including the large Stokes shift, solid-state fluorescence, and aggregation-induced emission effect (AIEE).     

Highlights on the Road towards Highly Emitting Solid‐State Luminophores: Two Classes of Thiazole‐Based Organoboron Fluorophores with the AIEE/AIE Effect

Developing a novel, small‐sized molecular building block that may be capable of emitting light in the solid state is a challenging task and has rarely been reported in the literature. BF₂‐containing dyes seem to be promising candidates towards this aim. Two series of new N^NBF₂ complexes showing aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) and aggregation‐induced emission enhancement (AIEE) were designed and synthesized by means of a new protocol, which improved on the traditional method by employing microwave irradiation. The optical and photophysical properties of the BF₂ complexes were investigated in depth. The synthesized complexes showed fluorescence in both solution and the solid state and, in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran/water, may aggregate into fluorescent nanoparticles. The experimental investigation was supported by quantum mechanical calculations. Their availability, stability, large Stokes shifts, and aggregation capabilities, along with their solid‐state emission capability, render this new class of BF₂ complexes promising AIEE/AIE fluorophores for further applications in the fields of fluorescence imaging and materials science.     

Effect of the presence of iron vapors on the volumetric emission of Ar/Fe and Ar/Fe/HZ plasmas

The net volumetric emission coefficient was calculated using the escape factor method for Ar/Fe and Ar/H₂/Fe plasmas, at atmospheric pressure, over the temperature range from 3000 K to 30,000 K. The calculation involved 712 lines for Ar I, Ar II, and Ar III, 3481 lines for Fe I, Fe II, and Fe III, and 230 lines for H in the Ar/H₂/Fe case. A semiempirical method was used for the determination of line profiles and line broadening. The results show a strong influence of the presence of even traces of iron vapors at low temperatures where the volumetric emission increases by several orders of magnitude. Special attention is given to self-absorption of the argon resonance lines which prevents the radiation from escaping within a few millimeters from the emission source.     

Tunable Dual Fluorescence of 3‐(2,2′‐Bipyridyl)‐Substituted Iminocoumarin

3‐(2,2′‐Bipyridyl)‐substituted iminocoumarin molecules (compounds 1 and 2 ) exhibit dual fluorescence. Each molecule has one electron donor and two electron acceptors that are in conjugation, which leads to fluorescence from two independent charge transfer (CT) states. To account for the dual fluorescence, we subscribe to a kinetic model in which both CT states form after rapid decays from the directly accessed S₁ and S₂ excited states. Due to the slow internal conversion from S₂ to S₁, or more likely the slow interconversion between the two subsequently formed CT states, dual emission is allowed to occur. This hypothesis is supported by the following evidence: 1) the emission at short and long ends of the spectrum originates from two different excitation spectra, which eliminates the possibility that dual emission occurs after an adiabatic reaction at the S₁ level. 2) The fluorescence quantum yield of compound 2 grows with increasing excitation wavelength, which indicates that the high‐energy excitation elevates the molecule to a weakly emissive state that does not internally convert to the low‐energy, highly emissive state. The intensity of the two emission bands of 1 is tunable through the specific interactions between either of the two electron acceptors with another species, such as Zn²⁺ in the current demonstration. Therefore, the development of ratiometric fluorescent indicators based on the dual‐emitting iminocoumarin system is conceivable. Further fundamental studies on this series of compounds using time‐resolved spectroscopic techniques, and explorations of their applications will be carried out in the near future.     

ICP-AES determination of trace elements after preconcentrated with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde-modified nanometer SiO2 from sample solution

A new method that utilizes p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde-modified nanometer SiO₂ (SiO₂-p-DMABD) as a solid phase extractant has been developed for simultaneous preconcentration of trace Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III) and Pb(II) prior to the measurement by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The preconcentration conditions of analytes were investigated, including the pH value, the shaking time, the mass of sorbent, the sample flow rate and volume, the elution condition and the interfering ions. The adsorption capacity of nanometer SiO₂-p-DMABD was found to be (mg g^− 1) Cr(III): 6.2, Cu(II): 18.6, Fe(III): 4.7 and Pb(II): 6.0 at pH 4. The adsorbed metals were quantitatively eluted with 4 mL of 1.0 mol L^− 1 HCl. According to the definition of IUPAC, the detection limits (3σ) of this method for Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III) and Pb(II) were 0.79, 1.27, 0.40 and 1.79 ng mL^− 1, respectively. The proposed method achieved satisfied results when it was applied to the determination of trace Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III) and Pb(II) in biological and water samples.     

Studies of gas-phase reactions of cationic iron complexes of 2-pyrimidinyloxy-N-arylbenzylamines by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (ESI‐TSQ‐MS) and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI‐FTICR‐MS) were used to investigate the interesting gas‐phase reactions of the cationic iron (Fe) complexes of 2‐pyrimidinyloxy‐N‐arylbenzylamines (1–6), which are generated by ESI when mixing their methanolic solutions. Further studies of these Fe complexes by collision‐induced dissociation (CID) show that Fe(III) complexes undergo an interesting gas‐phase single electron transfer (SET) reaction to give 1^?+–6^?+,with loss of neutral FeCl₂, whereas Fe(II) can catalyze gas‐phase Smiles rearrangement reactions of compounds 1–6. By using different Fe(II)X₂ salts (X = Cl or Br) with a set of reactants, the role of the counterion (X^?) and the structure effect of the reactants on Fe(II)‐catalyzed gas‐phase Smiles rearrangement reactions are studied. Evidence obtained from by TSQ‐MS and FTICR‐MS experiments, hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange experiments and theoretical computations supported some unique gas‐phase chemistries initiated by introduction of Fe(II) into 1. Importantly, by comparing the distinct gas‐phase reaction results of the cationic Fe(III) complexes with those of Fe(II) complexes, the charge state effects of iron on the gas‐phase chemistries of Fe complexes are revealed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solvent effects on the redox properties of tris-(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II/III) complexes

The redox properties of the system Fe(tmphen)₃(II/III) (tmphen=3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) have been studied in the solvents nitromethane, acetonitrile, propanediol-1,2-carbonate, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide and of the systems Fe(phen)₃(II/III) (phen=1,10-phenanthroline) and Fe(niphen)₃(II/III) (niphen=5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline) in the solvents nitromethane, acetonitrile, propanediol-1,2-carbonate and acetone. The redox potentials of Fe(tmphen)₃(II/III) are nearly independent of the solvent suggesting that the system might be used as a reference redox couple similar to the systems ferrocene/ferricinium or bisbiphenylchromium(0/I). In contrast the redox potentials of Fe(niphen)₃(II/III) show a significant decrease with increasing donor number of the solvent which can be explained by nucleophilic attack of solvent molecules at the iron. It is shown that such a mechanism is consistent with the known solvent and salt effects on the kinetics of dissociation of ferroin and ferriin type complexes.     

Schiff-Basen aus 1,3-Dicarbonylverbindungen und Triaminen und ihre Fe (III)-, Co (III)-, Ni(II)- und Cu(II)-Komplexe

Schiff bases of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with triamines and their Fe(III), Co(III), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes The preparation of new hexadentate ligands obtained by the reaction of cis, cis-1,3,5-triaminocyclohexane (tach) or 1,1,1-tris (aminomethyl)ethane (tame) with an 2-ethoxymethylidene-1,3-dicarbonyl compound as well as their Fe(III), Co(III), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes is reported. Fe(III) and Co(III) yield neutral complexes with an octahedral N₃O₃-coordination sphere, Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes with a square-planar coordination-sphere. In the later complexes one of the bidentate branches of the ligand is not deprotonated and stays uncoordinated.     

Extraction studies on iron

The extraction of Fe(III) and Fe(II) from various aqueous acidic solutions, with nitrobenzene, Amberlite LA-2, TBP and HDEHP is described. Conditions are given for the separation of Fe(III) from Fe(II). The extraction and separation of Fe(III) and Fe(II) is most adequate from HCl solutions, using the four solvents. The extraction of iron halides from H₂SO₄ solutions has been studied. The effect of water-miscible alcohols on the distribution of Fe(III) and Fe(II) was also studied. Extraction equilibria and mechanisms were proposed on the basis of the obtained results.     

Kinetic Study of the Catalyzed Substitution Reaction of Benzal Chloride and Sodium Iodide in Acetone

The substitution reaction of benzal chloride (PhCHCl₂) and sodium iodide in acetone needs a metal-ion catalyst. Without considering the effects of solubility and the dissociation of salt, salts of Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(II, III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II)m Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(I, II), and Sb(III) ions are used to study their catalytic reactivities. It is found that the Fe(II) ion exhibits acceptable catalytic effect. The overall Fe(II)-catalyzed PhCHCl₂-NaI reaction can be described by the following competitive consecutive scheme: PhCHCl₂ → PhCHCII → PhCHI₂. Under suitable conditions, coupling products such as PhCH=CHPh and PhCHClCHClPh are also found. The rate of the first-stage substitution of the PhCHCl₂-NaI reaction increases linearly with the PhCHCl₂ concentration. It increases asymptotically with the FeCl₂ concentration. However, there is an optimum concentration for Nal. The apparent activation energies are 104 ± 4 kJ/mol and 133 ± 4 kJ/mol for the Fe(II)-catalyzed PhCHCl₂-NaI and PhCHCH-NaI reactions, respectively.     

CS‐Fe(II,III) complex as precursor for magnetite nanocrystal

Chitosan‐iron ions complex (CS‐Fe(II,III) complex) was used as precursor to synthesize magnetite nanocrystals and the mechanism was discussed. The magnetite nanocrystals have diameters of about 10 nm and clusters were formed due to slight aggregation of several magnetite nanocrystals. FT‐IR and X‐ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) investigations indicated that the Fe(II) and Fe(III) were chelated by ? NH₂ and ? OH groups of chitosan in CS‐Fe(II,III) complex, and the molar ratio of ? NH₂/Fe(II,III) was approximately 2. This chelation effect destroyed the hydrogen bonds of chitosan. In the following alkali treatment process, the chelated Fe(II) and Fe(III) provided nucleation site and formed the magnetite nanocrystals. After alkali treatment, the chelation effect between iron ions and ? NH₂ groups disappeared and some kind of weak interaction formed between magnetite and ? NH₂ groups. Moreover, the ? OH groups of chitosan have an interaction with the synthesized magnetite nanocrystals. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrocatalytic effect of iron sulfates on oxygen reduction. Influence of the solvation sphere of the mediator

The redox catalysis of oxygen reduction was performed on a platinum rotating disk electrode. The Fe(III)/Fe(II)/H₂SO₄ system at different pH's was used as a MEDIATOR. The catalytic effect of mediator was directly related to the solvation sphere of Fe(III) and Fe(II). Only the redox couple FeHSO ₄ ²⁺ /FeHSO ₄ ⁺ (pH<0) showed a catalytic effect on oxygen reduction.     

A new class of rhodamine luminophores: design, syntheses and aggregation-induced emission enhancement

A new class of rhodamine luminophores, 3',3'-bis(oxospiroisobenzofuran)-3,7-bis(dialkylamino)benzopyrano-xanthene derivatives (ABPX), have been successfully developed. The emission behavior of ABPX series is directly opposite to the concentration quenching of conventional rhodamine dyes. ABPX series exhibit aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE).     

Speciation analysis of selenoproteins in human serum by microbore affinity-HPLC hyphenated to ICP-Sector field-MS using a high efficiency sample introduction system

Silica gel and nanometer SiO₂ modified with 4-(2-aminoethylamino)-N-(2-(2-aminoethyl amino)ethyl)butanamide (SG-AAEB and nanometer SiO₂-AAEB), which were prepared based on chemical immobilization, were used as sorbents for the solid phase extraction of Cu(II), Fe(III), and Pb(II) prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Adsorption efficiencies of the two sorbents towards metal ions were investigated by batch and column procedures. For both sorbents the preconcentration conditions of analytes including effects of pH, shaking time, sample flow rate and adsorption capacity, were investigated and compared. The differences of silica gel and nanometer SiO₂ in sizes and surface structures resulted in distinct chemical activity and selectivity toward metals. At pH 4, the adsorption capacity of SG-AAEB was found to be 12.2, 14.5 and 9.8 mg g^?1 for Cu(II), Fe(III), and Pb(II), respectively. In comparison, nanometer SiO₂-AAEB showed a high selectivity toward Pb(II) and has a much larger adsorption capacity (22.3 mg g^?1). Furthermore, the application of SG-AAEB and nanometer SiO₂-AAEB for simultaneous preconcentration of trace Cu(II), Fe(III), and Pb(II) from natural samples was performed with satisfactory results.     

An Unprecedented Blueshifted Naphthalimide AIEEgen for Ultrasensitive Detection of 4‐Nitroaniline in Water via “Receptor‐Free” IFE Mechanism

The development of a new naphthalene appended naphthalimide derivative ( NMI ) with aggregation‐induced enhanced emission (AIEE) property for the sensitive detection of 4‐nitroaniline (4‐NA) in aqueous media is presented here. The newly designed naphthalimide AIEEgen has an exceptional blue‐shifted condensed state emission that is devoid of any receptor site, accomplished ultrasensitive detection of 4‐NA, which is one of the broad‐spectrum pesticides that belong to the class III toxic chemical, at parts per billion level (LOD/36 ppb, K_sv=4.1×10⁴ m ^?1) in water with excellent selectivity even in the presence of potentially competing aliphatic and aromatic amines. The reported probe is the first of its kind, demonstrating major advantages of receptor‐free inner filter effect (IFE) mechanism for the sensitive detection of 4‐NA using an AIEEgenic probe. Excellent sensitivity for 4‐NA is also achieved on paper‐based test‐strip for low‐cost on‐site detection.     

Synthesis and Mössbauer spectroscopy of oxo-centered mixed-valence trinuclear iron fumarate and iron malonate complexes

Oxo-centered trinuclear mixed-valence iron fumarate [Fe₃O(O₂CCH=CHCO₂)₃(H₂O)₃]^·nH₂O and iron malonate [Fe₃O(O₂CCH₂CO₂)₃(H₂O)₃] have been prepared and studied by variable temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy. Iron fumarate complex showed a temperature dependent valence delocalization process. At 6 K two quadrupole split doublets corresponding to high-spin Fe(III) and high-spin Fe(II) state with an area ratio of 2:1 were observed and at 298 K there was only an averaged singlet peak. On the other hand malonate complex showed a localized valence state of high-spin Fe(III) and Fe(II) from low temperature to room temperature only with a slight variation in area ratio and spectral line broadening for Fe(II).     

Transition metal ion complexes of the conjugate base of 3,5-diphenyl 1-hydroxypyrazole 2-oxide

Transition metal ion complexes of the general formula ML₃(M = Cr(III), Fe(III), ML₂ (M = Mn(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and ML₂(H₂O)₂ (M = Co(II), Ni(II)) with the conjugate base of 3,5-diphenyl 1-hydroxypyrazole 2-oxide = L have been prepared from aqueous solution. All are non-electrolytes and the ligand based on the IR results acts as a bidentate in all compounds. The Cr(III), Co(II) and Ni(II) compounds approximate octahedral symmetry and ligand field parameters are calculated from the electronic spectra. The Fe(III) solid possesses a strong ligand-to-metal charge transfer band at 20.20 kK and ESR studies show the Cu(II) complex to be dimeric.     

Restriction of Photoinduced Twisted Intramolecular Charge Transfer

An intensive investigation of structure–property relationships in the aggregation‐induced enhanced emission (AIEE) of luminescent compounds is essential for the rational design of highly emissive solid‐state materials. In the AIEE‐active compounds N,N′‐bis[3‐hydroxy‐4‐(2′‐benzothiazolyl)phenyl]isophthalamide and N,N′‐bis[3‐hydroxy‐4‐(2′‐benzothiazolyl)phenyl]‐5‐tert‐butylisophthalamide, fast photoinduced twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) of the enol excited state is found to be mainly responsible for the weak emission of their dilute solutions. The photoinduced TICT enol excited state is formed with a greatly distorted configuration, due to the large rotation about the C? N single bond. This facilitates nonradiative TICT decay from the normal enol excited state to the highly twisted enol excited state, rather than proton‐transfer decay to the keto excited state. In aggregates, photoinduced nonradiative deactivation of TICT is strongly prohibited, so that excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) becomes the dominant decay, and hence contributes greatly to the subsequent emission enhancement of the keto form. Molecular design and investigation of analogous single‐armed compounds further verifies this kind of AIEE mechanism.