Two 1,8-naphthalimide-based proton-receptor fluorescent probes for pH determination

Two newly synthesised 1,8-naphthalimide-based proton-receptor fluorescent probes N-allyl-4-(4’-N,N-diethylpropionamide-acetamido-piperazinyl)-1,8-naphthalimide I and N-(N,N-dibenzylpro- pionamide-acetamido)-4-allyl-1-piperazinyl-1,8-naphthalimide II were synthesised to monitor the change in pH in such a way that the presence of protons can increase the fluorescence intensity of these compounds. Unlike most of the other pH-sensitive probes reported, the probes possess the obvious advantage of being able to detect stronger acids at pH ≈ 2 and a combination of the two probes could detect a wider pH scale from 1.98 to 6.59; this should be very useful for monitoring the pH of the environment.     

Structural organization of a {ruthenium[tris(bipyridyl)]} complex by strong π–π stacking of a tethered 1,8-naphthalimide synthon: Impact on electrochemical and spectral properties

The new ligand N-(5-methyl-2,2′-bipyridyl)-1,8-naphthalimide has been prepared by the reaction of 1,8-naphthalimide, 5-(bromomethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine and potassium carbonate in refluxing acetone. Reaction of this ligand and bis(bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) dichloride in refluxing ethanol followed by anion exchange with ammonium hexafluorophosphate produces {ruthenium[bis(bipyridyl)][N-(5-methyl-2,2′-bipyridyl)-1,8-naphthalimide]}(PF₆)₂ (1). In both the solid state (X-ray analysis) and in solution (shown by PGSE-NMR analysis), the 1,8-naphthalimide synthon organizes the cationic metal units into dimers with a strong, directionally oriented (head to tail) π–π stacking interaction. UV–VIS, fluorescence spectroscopy and electrochemical studies indicate that even with the strong interactions of the 1,8-naphthalimide groups, it does not have a significant influence on the properties of the [Ru(bipy)₃]²⁺ core.     

Super-resolution imaging and real-time tracking lysosome in living cells by a fluorescent probe

Lysosomes function as important organelles within cells and their movement associates with diverse biological events, hence the real-time tracking of lysosomal movement is of great significance. However, since most lysosome fluorescent probes suffer from relatively unsatisfactory photostability, tracking lysosomal movement in real-time remains challenging. Here, we report that a naphthalimide-based fluorescent compound, namely NIMS, is a quite promising probe for lysosome imaging. The visualizing mechanism lies in the selective accumulation of NIMS in lysosomes via a protonation reaction, followed by the fluorescence enhancement due to the interactions of NIMS with proteins. Owing to its high selectivity and good photostability, NIMS was successfully applied to capture super-resolution fluorescence images of lysosomes. More importantly, real-time tracking of lysosome movement in a single living cell by NIMS was realized with a confocal laser scanning microscope. Surprisingly, even in normal culture conditions, around 2/3 of the captured lysosomes were observed to move within 5 min, indicative of the highly dynamic features of lysosomes. Thus, this probe may facilitate the understanding of the lysosome dynamics in physiological or pathological conditions.     

1,8-Naphthalimide-based colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for recognition of GMP,TMP, and UMP and its application in in vivo imaging

In this study, a series of 1,8-naphthalimide-based analogs were developed for fluorescence imaging of nucleotides in Caenorhabditis elegans. In DMSO, compound 1 proved to be an effective and selective colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for recognition of GMP, TMP, and UMP over other structurally similar nucleotides. Among all the tested nucleotides, only the addition of GMP, TMP, and UMP resulted in a fluorescence color change from blue to brown with a fluorescence enhancement of more than 600-fold, with the colorless solution turning brown. NMR spectroscopic titration, theoretical calculations, and spectral tests performed using various solvent compositions confirmed that compound 1 formed multiple hydrogen bonds with the related base groups in the nucleotide. Compound 1 demonstrated its utility as a fluorescent chemosensor for detecting GMP, TMP, and UMP in in vivo imaging of GMP, TMP, and UMP in C. elegans.     

Facilely prepared aggregation-induced emission (AIE) nanocrystals with deep-red emission for super-resolution imaging

Organic nanocrystals (NCs) with high brightness are highly desirable for biological imaging. However, the preparation of NCs by a facile and fast method is still challenging. Herein, an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogen of 4,4′-(5,6-difluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole-4,7-diyl)bis(N,N-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)aniline) (DTPA-BT-F) in the deep-red region is designed with intensive crystalline features to obtain NCs by kinetically controlled nanoprecipitation. The prepared AIE NCs with high brightness and good photo-stability are then applied in super-resolution imaging via stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy. As observed, the nanostructures in lysosomes of both fixed and live cells are well visualized with superior lateral resolutions under STED nanoscopy (full width at half maximum values, 107 and 108 nm) in contrast to that in confocal imaging (548 and 740 nm). More importantly, dynamic monitoring and long-term tracking of lysosomal movements in live HeLa cells, such as lysosomal contact, can also be carried out by using DTPA-BT-F NCs at a superior resolution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of AIE NCs prepared by nanoprecipitation for STED nanoscopy, thus providing a new strategy to develop high performance imaging agents for super-resolution imaging.

AIE nanocrystals with high brightness in the deep-red region were facilely prepared by kinetically controlled nanoprecipitation. These nanocrystals were then applied in super-resolution cellular imaging via STED nanoscopy.     

Rapid access to t-butylalkylated olefins enabled by Ni-catalyzed intermolecular regio- and trans-selective cross-electrophile t-butylalkylation of alkynes

Among the carbo-difunctionalization of alkynes, the stereoselective dialkylation of alkynes is the most challenging transformation due to associated competitive side reactions and thus remains underdeveloped. Herein, we report the first Ni-catalyzed regio- and trans-selective cross-dialkylation of alkynes with two distinct alkyl bromides to afford olefins with two aliphatic substituents. The reductive conditions circumvent the use of organometallic reagents, enabling the cross-dialkylation process to occur at room temperature from two different alkyl bromides. This operationally simple protocol provides a straightforward and practical access to a wide range of stereodefined dialkylated olefins with broad functional group tolerance from easily available starting materials.

A direct reductive cross-dialkylation of alkynes is achieved to afford trans-dialkylated olefins using two distinct alkyl bromides. The reaction undergoes with exclusive chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity without the use of organometallic reagents.     

Radical boron migration of allylboronic esters

A photocatalyzed 1,3-boron shift of allylboronic esters is reported. The boron atom migration through the allylic carbon skeleton proceeds via consecutive 1,2-boron migrations and Smiles-type rearrangement to furnish a variety of terminally functionalized alkyl boronates. Several types of migrating variations of heteronuclei radicals and dearomatization processes are also tolerated, allowing for further elaboration of highly functionalized boron-containing frameworks.

A photocatalyzed 1,3-boron shift of allylboronic esters is reported. The atom-switch acrobatics proceeds via cascade 1,2-boron migrations and Smiles type rearrangement to furnish a variety of terminally functionalized alkyl boronates.     

AIE-based nanoaggregate tracker: high-fidelity visualization of lysosomal movement and drug-escaping processes

High-fidelity imaging and long-term visualization of lysosomes are crucial for their functional evaluation, related disease detection and active drug screening. However, commercial aggregation-caused quenching probes are not conducive to precise lysosomal imaging because of their inherent drawbacks, like easy diffusion, short emission and small Stokes shift, let alone their long-term tracing due to rapid photobleaching. Herein we report a novel aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based TCM-PI nanoaggregate tracker for direct visualization of lysosomes based on the building block of tricyano-methylene-pyridine (TCM), wherein introduced piperazine (PI) groups behave as targeting units to lysosomes upon protonation, and the self-assembled nanostructure contributes to fast endocytosis for enhanced targeting ability as well as extended retention time for long-term imaging. The piperazine-stabilized TCM-PI nanoaggregate shifts the emission maximum to 677 nm in an aqueous environment, and falls within the desirable NIR region with a large Stokes shift of 162 nm, thereby greatly reducing biological fluorescent background interference. In contrast with the commercially available LysoTracker Red, the essential AIE characteristic of high photostability can guarantee three-dimensional high-fidelity tracing with low photobleaching, and little diffusion from lysosomes, and especially overcome the AIE bottleneck to target specificity. Consequently, the AIE-based nanoaggregate tracker successfully achieves the high-fidelity and long-term tracing of lysosomal movement and even monitors the drug-escaping process from lysosomes to cell nuclei, which provides a potential tool to benefit drug screening.

Well-formed AIE nanoaggregates with good stability can achieve high-fidelity visualization of lysosomal movement and drug-escaping processes.     

Esters of 4-(3-Dialkylamino-2,5-dioxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-pyrrolyl)phenylacetic acids

Reaction of equivalent amounts of alkyl 4-aminophenylacetates with maleic anhydride gave rise to the corresponding alkyl 4-N-maleimidophenylacetates which with diethylamine, piperidine, and morpholine afforded esters of 4-(3-dialkylamino-2,5-dioxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolyl)phenylacetic acids as stereoisomer mixtures.     

Radical chain monoalkylation of pyridines

The monoalkylation of N-methoxypyridinium salts with alkyl radicals generated from alkenes (via hydroboration with catecholborane), alkyl iodides (via iodine atom transfer) and xanthates is reported. The reaction proceeds under neutral conditions since no acid is needed to activate the heterocycle and no external oxidant is required. A rate constant for the addition of a primary radical to N-methoxylepidinium >10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ was experimentally determined. This rate constant is more than one order of magnitude larger than the one measured for the addition of primary alkyl radicals to protonated lepidine demonstrating the remarkable reactivity of methoxypyridinium salts towards radicals. The reaction has been used for the preparation of unique pyridinylated terpenoids and was extended to a three-component carbopyridinylation of electron-rich alkenes including enol esters, enol ethers and enamides.

N-Methoxypyridinium salts are exceptionally reactive radical traps that can be used in efficient radical chain reactions with organoboranes.     

Rational design of donor–π–acceptor n-butyl-1,8-naphthalimide-cored branched molecules as charge transport and luminescent materials for organic light-emitting diodes

Four D–π–A bipolar molecules with n-butyl-1,8-naphthalimide (BNI) fragments as acceptors, acetylenes as π-spacers, and different aromatic groups as donors have been designed to explore their optical, electronic, and charge transport properties as charge transport and luminescent materials for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) and local density of states analysis have turned out that the vertical electronic transitions of absorption and emission are characterized as intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). The calculated results show that their optical and electronic properties are affected by the different donors of the bipolar molecules. Our results suggest that D–π–A 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives with donors triphenylamine (1), 1-nitrobenzene (2), anisole (3), and 4-phenylbenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (4) fragments are expected to be promising luminescent materials. Furthermore, 2–4 are expected to be promising candidates for both electron and hole transport materials as well as potential ambipolar charge transport material, whereas BNI and 1 can serve as hole transfer materials only. We have also predicted the mobility of 4 with better performance in three different space groups. On the basis of investigated results, we proposed a rational way for the design of charge transport and/or luminescent materials simultaneously.     

Imaging Lipid Metabolism in Live Caenorhabditis elegans Using Fingerprint Vibrations

Quantitation of lipid storage, unsaturation, and oxidation in live C. elegans has been a long‐standing obstacle. The combination of hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering imaging and multivariate analysis in the fingerprint vibration region represents a platform that allows the quantitative mapping of fat distribution, degree of fat unsaturation, lipid oxidation, and cholesterol storage in vivo in the whole worm. Our results reveal for the first time that lysosome‐related organelles in intestinal cells are sites for storage of cholesterol in C. elegans.     

NIR-II cell endocytosis-activated fluorescent probes for in vivo high-contrast bioimaging diagnostics

Fluorescence probes have great potential to empower bioimaging, precision clinical diagnostics and surgery. However, current probes are limited to in vivo high-contrast diagnostics, due to the substantial background interference from tissue scattering and nonspecific activation in blood and normal tissues. Here, we developed a kind of cell endocytosis-activated fluorescence (CEAF) probe, which consists of a hydrophilic polymer unit and an acid pH-sensitive small-molecule fluorescent moiety that operates in the “tissue-transparent” second near-infrared (NIR-II) window. The CEAF probe stably presents in the form of quenched nanoaggregates in water and blood, and can be selectively activated and retained in lysosomes through cell endocytosis, driven by a synergetic mechanism of disaggregation and protonation. In vivo imaging of tumor and inflammation with a passive-targeting and affinity-tagged CEAF probe, respectively, yields highly specific signals with target-to-background ratios over 15 and prolonged observation time up to 35 hours, enabling positive implications for surgical, diagnostic and fundamental biomedical studies.

A Cell Endocytosis-Activated Fluorescent (CEAF) probe triggered by disaggregation and protonation is designed for high contrast in vivo bioimaging and diagnostics in the second near-infrared window (1000–1700 nm).     

Lysosomal pH Rise during Heat Shock Monitored by a Lysosome‐Targeting Near‐Infrared Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe

Heat stroke is a life‐threatening condition, featuring a high body temperature and malfunction of many organ systems. The relationship between heat shock and lysosomes is poorly understood, mainly because of the lack of a suitable research approach. Herein, by incorporating morpholine into a stable hemicyanine skeleton, we develop a new lysosome‐targeting near‐infrared ratiometric pH probe. In combination with fluorescence imaging, we show for the first time that the lysosomal pH value increases but never decreases during heat shock, which might result from lysosomal membrane permeabilization. We also demonstrate that this lysosomal pH rise is irreversible in living cells. Moreover, the probe is easy to synthesize, and shows superior overall analytical performance as compared to the existing commercial ones. This enhanced performance may enable it to be widely used in more lysosomal models of living cells and in further revealing the mechanisms underlying heat‐related pathology.     

Photodegradation of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers peripherally modified with 1,8-naphthalimide units

This paper presents the photophysical and photochemical characteristics of four new poly(amidoamine) dendrimers of zero and second generation whose periphery has been modified with 1,8-naphthalimide units. Nitro- and allylamino groups have been used as substitutents at the C-4 position of the 1,8-naphthalimide fluorophores. The discussion is focused on the photodegradation of the dendrimers in N,N-dimethylformamide and dioxan solutions. Investigations have shown that the photodegradation of the dendrimers with 4-nitro substituted 1,8-naphthalimide proceed with yellow colour development in the solvent while no colour changes followed the same process in dendrimers with allylamino group substituent. The results also show that the photostability of the dendrimers depends on their generation.     

Selective fluorescent PET sensing of fluoride (F) using naphthalimide-thiourea and -urea conjugates

The thiourea and urea functionalised 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide sensors 1-3, based on the fluorophore-spacer-receptor principle, were synthesised in high yield in three steps. The sensors were shown to signal selectively the detection of fluoride in the fluorescence emission spectrum in DMSO. On all occasions the emission was quenched due to enhanced photoinduced electron transfer quenching (PET) from the receptor to the excited state of the fluorophore upon recognition of F⁻, particularly for the thiourea sensors 1 and 2. In comparison, the changes in the absorption spectra were minor for all three, even after the addition of 80-100 equiv of F⁻. The sensing of acetate or dihydrogenphosphate gave rise to only ∼5-20% quenching.     

Highly selective fluorescent chemosensor with red shift for cysteine in buffer solution and its bioimage: symmetrical naphthalimide aldehyde

A new fluorescent probe 1, N-butyl-4, 5-(p-aldehyde)phenyl-1,8-naphthalimide, was designed and synthesized for the determination of the cysteine (Cys). Upon addition of Cys, the emission of 1 was enhanced with about 25 nm red-shift in the emission maximum (from 455 to 480 nm), accompanied with the fluorescent color change from blue to cyan, which was attributed to the reaction of the aldehyde groups in 1 with cysteine to form very stable thiazolidines derivative. Compound 1 was highly selective for cysteine detection without the interference of other amino acids and can be used for bioimaging of Cys.     

A specific probe for two-photon fluorescence lysosomal imaging

Lysosomes are vital organelles in physiological processes, as they receive and degrade macromolecules from the secretory and endocytic procedures. Evidences have shown that lysosomes were related to oncogenic activation and cancer progression, so lysosomes targeting and imaging probes make them convenient to be observed. In this study, a lysosome specific probe W-7 was designed and synthesized via convenient one-pot reaction and Heck reaction. This probe was derived from Tröger's base with a dimethylaminomethyl end group. The optical properties of this compound were measured. W-7 also showed two-photon absorption (TPA) effect by using laser excitation at the wavelength of infrared light. In vivo experiment, W-7 showed high specificity and selectivity for lysosomes in living cells (HeLa cells, MRC-5 cells and NRK cells), compared with LT Red, GT Red and MT Red (R = 0.96). Two-photon fluorescence images of HeLa cells stained by W-7 were obtained. And high resolution 3D reconstruction of lysosomes in one HeLa cell was provided by using two-photon confocal microscopy. The anantioseparation of racemic W-7 was carried out by chiral-HPLC, and the two enantiomers showed no significant difference in lysosomes imaging.     

CO/light dual-activatable Ru(ii)-conjugated oligomer agent for lysosome-targeted multimodal cancer therapeutics

Stimuli-activatable and subcellular organelle-targeted agents with multimodal therapeutics are urgently desired for highly precise and effective cancer treatment. Herein, a CO/light dual-activatable Ru(ii)-oligo-(thiophene ethynylene) (Ru-OTE) for lysosome-targeted cancer therapy is reported. Ru-OTE is prepared via the coordination-driven self-assembly of a cationic conjugated oligomer (OTE-BN) ligand and a Ru(ii) center. Upon the dual-triggering of internal gaseous signaling molecular CO and external light, Ru-OTE undergoes ligand substitution and releases OTE-BN followed by dramatic fluorescence recovery, which could be used for monitoring drug delivery and imaging guided anticancer treatments. The released OTE-BN selectively accumulates in lysosomes, physically breaking their integrity. Then, the generated cytotoxic singlet oxygen (¹O₂) causes severe lysosome damage, thus leading to cancer cell death via photodynamic therapy (PDT). Meanwhile, the release of the Ru(ii) core also suppresses cancer cell growth as an anticancer metal drug. Its significant anticancer effect is realized via the multimodal therapeutics of physical disruption/PDT/chemotherapy. Importantly, Ru-OTE can be directly photo-activated using a two-photon laser (800 nm) for efficient drug release and near-infrared PDT. Furthermore, Ru-OTE with light irradiation inhibits tumor growth in an MDA-MB-231 breast tumor model with negligible side effects. This study demonstrates that the development of an activatable Ru(ii)-conjugated oligomer potential drug provides a new strategy for effective subcellular organelle-targeted multimodal cancer therapeutics.

The anticancer therapeutics of lysosome disruption/PDT/chemotherapy based on Ru-OTE complex was achieved, which provides a new strategy for developing multimodal and effective stimuli-activatable subcellular organelle-targeted cancer therapeutics.     

Nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of unactivated alkyl bromides and aliphatic aldehydes

A mild, convenient coupling of aliphatic aldehydes and unactivated alkyl bromides has been developed. The catalytic system features the use of a common Ni(ii) precatalyst and a readily available bioxazoline ligand and affords silyl-protected secondary alcohols. The reaction is operationally simple, utilizing Mn as a stoichiometric reductant, and tolerates a wide range of functional groups. The use of 1,5-hexadiene as an additive is an important reaction parameter that provides significant benefits in yield optimizations. Initial mechanistic experiments support a mechanism featuring an alpha-silyloxy Ni species that undergoes formal oxidative addition to the alkyl bromide via a reductive cross-coupling pathway.

Aliphatic aldehydes and alkyl bromides are reductively coupled using nickel catalysis. A BiOX ligand and 1,5-hexadiene paired with a silyl chloride and Mn as the terminal reductant are important features of the process.