Quaternary ammonium salt-based chromogenic and fluorescent chemosensors for fluoride ions

Chemosensors 5-7 possessing a quaternary ammonium cation (for electrostatic interactions) and an N-H group(s) (for H-bonding) as recognition sites and an anthracene-9,10-dione as both a chromogenic and fluorescent moiety exhibit absorption and emission changes with fluoride ions only. No significant response to other anions such as Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, , CH₃COO⁻, , and is observed. The dual emission at λ_max 580 nm (free 5/6) and λ_max 510 and 540 nm (5/6 + F⁻) in chemosensors 5 and 6 enables ratiometric analysis of fluoride ions.     

Adamantane-dipyrromethanes: novel anion receptors

New adamantane-dipyrromethanes (AdD 1-4) were synthesized and their anion binding properties investigated. AdD 1-3 form 2:1 complexes with F⁻ (AdD:F = 2:1) characterized by high association constants, and 1:1 complexes with Cl⁻, Br⁻, and . The binding of Cl⁻, Br⁻, and by AdD 1-3 is 2-3 times stronger than for the reference compound, meso-phenyldipyrromethane (5). However, AdD 4 forms complexes with F⁻ characterized by 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometry (AdD:F = 1:2).     

Pyrrolamidocalix[4]arenes: new receptors for anion recognition

Pyrrolamidocalix[4]arenes 1-4, members of a new class of anion receptors bearing pyrrolic units at the upper rim of calix[4]arene macrocycle, have been readily synthesized in good yields. Derivatives 1 and 3, with unsubstituted pyrrole units, show a good selectivity for over F⁻ and AcO⁻, while the presence of electron-withdrawing NO₂ substituents in 2 and 4 inverts the selectivity favoring more basic AcO⁻ and F⁻. In addition, it is demonstrated that the flexibility of calix[4]arene skeleton, present in 1 but absent in 3, is very important in the fitting process that leads the amidopyrrole moieties to wrap the tetrahedral guest.     

Magnetic and transport properties of RCr0.3Ge2 (R=Tb, Dy, Ho and Er) compounds

The magnetic and transport properties of ternary rare-earth chromium germanides RCr_0.3Ge₂ (R=Y and Tb-Er) have been determined. X-ray and neutron diffraction studies indicate that these compounds have the CeNiSi₂-type structure (space group Cmcm) [1]. Magnetic measurements reveal the antiferromagnetic ordering below T_N equal to 18.5 K (R=Tb), 11.8 K (Dy), 5.8 K (Ho) and 3.4 K (Er). From the neutron diffraction data the magnetic structures have been determined. For TbCr_0.3Ge₂ and DyCr_0.3Ge₂ at low temperatures the magnetic ordering can be described by two vectors k₁=(,0,0) and k₂=(,0,), and k₁′=(,0,0) and k₂′=(,0,), respectively. In HoCr_0.3Ge₂ and ErCr_0.3Ge₂ the ordering can be described by one propagation vector equal to (,,0) and (0,0,0.4187(2)), respectively. In DyCr_0.3Ge₂ some change in the magnetic ordering is observed at T_t=5.1 K. In temperature range from T_t to T_N the magnetic ordering is given by one propagation vector k=(,0,0). YCr_0.3Ge₂ is a Pauli paramagnet down to 1.72 K which suggests that in the entire RCr_0.3Ge₂ series the Cr atoms do not carry magnetic moments. All compounds studied exhibit metallic character of the electrical conductivity. The temperature dependencies of the lattice parameters reveal strong magnetostriction effect at the respective Nèel temperatures.     

Use of the interaction of a boronic acid with a merocyanine to develop an anionic colorimetric assay

A displacement assay based on the interaction of Brooker’s merocyanine (BM), a merocyanine dye, with an excess of phenylboronic acid (BA) was studied in acetonitrile. BM is colored in solution, but its reaction with BA yields a colorless covalently linked BA-BM species. This strategy was studied in the presence of different anions (F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, , , CH₃COO⁻, and ), but only fluoride, a strongly nucleophilic anion, and to a much lesser extent acetate, reacted with BA-BM, displacing BM through a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution mechanism, and coloring the solution. Experimental data were collected and are shown here in order to gain a better understanding of this chromogenic sensor.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of three new borates templated by transition-metal complexes in situ

Three new cobalt borate compounds, [Co(DIEN)₂][B₅O₆(OH)₄]₂ (DIEN=diethylenetriamine) (1), [B₅O₇(OH)₃Co(TREN)] (TREN=tris(2-aminoethyl)amine) (2), and [Co₂(TETA)₃][B₅O₆(OH)₄]₄ (TETA=triethylenetetramine) (3) have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR, elemental analysis and thermogravimetry. The structures exhibit interesting 3D supramolecular hydrogen-bonded architectures, involving the similar borate polyanion [B₅O_6+n(OH)_4−n]⁽ⁿ⁺¹⁾⁻(n=0 for 1 and 3, and n=1 for 2) and the templating transition metal complexes which are generated in situ under mild solvothermal conditions. Crystal data: 1, monoclinic, space group C2/m (No. 12), , , , β=93.601(4)°, , Z=2; 2, monoclinic, P2₁/c (No. 14), , , , β=99.926(4)°, , Z=4; 3, triclinic, space group P-1 (No. 2), , , , α=77.009(5)°, β=80.095(2)°, γ=82.334(3)°, , Z=2.     

A highly selective fluorescent chemosensor for dihydrogen phosphate via unique excimer formation and PET mechanism

A new fluorescent chemosensor bearing two imidazolium groups as well as two anthracene groups has been synthesized. This chemosensor displayed a highly selective fluorescence quenching effect and a unique excimer peak only with . The association constant of 1 with was calculated as >10⁶ M⁻¹.     

Reactions of pyridyl donors with halogens and interhalogens: an X-ray diffraction and FT-Raman investigation

Three different N-donors L, namely N-ethyl-N′-3-pyridyl-imidazolidine-4,5-dione-2-thione (1), N,N′-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-imidazolidine-4,5-dione-2-thione (2), and tetra-2-pyridyl-pyrazine (3), bearing one, two and four pyridyl substituents, respectively, have been reacted with halogens X₂ (X = Br, I) or interhalogens XY (X = I; Y = Cl, Br). CT σ-adducts L · nXY, bearing linear N?XY moieties (L = 3; X = I; Y = Br, I; n = 2), and salts containing the protonated cationic donors H_nLⁿ⁺ (L = 1 − 3; n = 1, 2, 4), counterbalanced by Cl⁻, Br⁻, , , , , I₂Br⁻, , or anions, have been isolated. Among the reactions products, (H1⁺)Cl⁻, (H1⁺)Br⁻, , , and 3 · 2IBr have been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The nature of the products has been elucidated based on elemental analysis and FT-Raman spectroscopy supported by MP2 and DFT calculations.     

Cyclic voltammetry and theoretical calculations of silyl-substituted 1,4-benzoquinones

Cyclic voltammograms of 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1a), 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(dimethylvinylsilyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1b), 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(dimethylsilyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1c), 4,4,6,6,10,10,12,12-octamethyl-4,6,10,12-tetrasilatricyclo[7.3.0.0^3,7]dodeca-1(9),3(7)-diene-2,8-dione (1d), and 5-t-butyl-2-(pentamethyldisilanyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (5h) showed that the first reduction step was reversible and that the second step was irreversible. The first half-wave reduction potentials of 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d shifted negatively relative to 1,4-benzoquinone by −0.31, −0.24, −0.03, and −0.18 V, respectively. These results demonstrated that the electron-accepting ability of the chair-form quinones 1a and 1b was lower than that of the planar quinones 1c and 1d. The of 5h (−0.93 V vs. Ag/Ag⁺) was quite similar to that of 5-t-butyl-2-trimethylsilyl-1,4-benzoquinone (5a, −0.94 V). A cyclic voltammogram of dimethylsilylene-bridged 1,4-benzoquinone dimer 7 showed two kinds of (−0.76 and −0.94 V). The electrochemical behavior of 7 would be interpreted in terms of near-neighbor interactions between reduced and non-reduced quinone units. Theoretical calculations of the silyl-1,4-benzoquinones reproduced well the solid state structures of the compounds. Also, the computed vibrational frequencies of the silyl-1,4-benzoquinones were in good agreement with the IR absorption frequencies of the CO units in the compounds. The LUMO energy levels of the silyl-1,4-benzoquinones were quantitatively proportional to the .     

An anionic chromogenic sensor based on the competition between the anion and a merocyanine solvatochromic dye for calix[4]pyrrole as a receptor site

The interaction of Brooker’s merocyanine (BM), a merocyanine dye, with calix[4]pyrrole (CP) was studied in acetonitrile. BM is violet in solution, but its interaction with CP changes the color of the solution due to the formation of CP-BM species associated through hydrogen bonding. A displacement assay was then carried out in the presence of different anions (F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, , , and ). It was verified that F⁻, and to a lesser extent Cl⁻ and , displace BM through the formation of a complex with CP, coloring the solution. Addition of makes the solution almost colorless because it is sufficiently acidic to transfer a proton to BM, removing it from the receptor site in CP and protonating the dye, thereby allowing the visual detection of the anion in relation to the other anions.     

Design and synthesis of four coordination polymers generated from 2,2′-biquinoline-4,4′-dicarboxylate and aromatic bidentate ligands

Four coordination polymers [Zn(bqdc)(phen)]_n (1), [Zn(bqdc)(bpy)(H₂O)]_n (2), [Mn(bqdc)(bpy)(H₂O)₂]_n (3) and [Mn(bqdc)(phen)(H₂O)₂]_n (4) (H₂bqdc=2,2′-biquinoline-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid, phen=1,10-phenanthroline and bpy=2,2′-bipyridyl) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data for 1: monoclinic system, C2/c, , , , β=103.78(3)°, , Z=4. Crystal data for 2: monoclinic system, p2₁/n, , , , β=107.13(7)°, , Z=4. Crystal data for 3: monoclinic system, C2/c, , , , β=116.8010(11)°, , Z=4. Crystal data for 4: monoclinic system, C2/c, , , , β=117.04(3)°, , Z=4. Single helix-like chains exist in 1. The supramolecular structure of 1 exhibits extended two-dimensional network while 2-4 display extended three-dimensional architectures based on interchain hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions. Compounds 1 and 2 show blue photoluminescence under UV light suggesting that they may be employed to develop luminescent materials. Compounds 3 and 4 show interesting magnetic behaviors.     

A novel calix[4]arene-based neutral semicarbazone receptor for anion recognition

A series of novel calix[4]arene-based neutral semicarbazone and thiosemicarbazone receptors have been synthesized and characterized. The molecular receptor 4a recognizes in preference to other anions (Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, , and ) through a 1:1 binding-stoichiometry.     

A TEM study of Ni ordering in the Ni6Se5−xTex, 0<x<∼1.7, system

The Ni₆Se_5−xTe_x, 0<x<∼1.7, system has been carefully investigated via electron diffraction and TEM imaging. They reveal a somewhat disordered modulated superstructure phase arising from Ni ion ordering within an essentially well-defined chalcogen sub-structure. As x, and the underlying parent substructure cell dimensions increase, the incommensurate primary modulation wave-vector q characteristic of this Ni ion ordering quickly swings from close to for x=0 towards for x?0.5. A lock-in to would formally transform the underlying parent Bmmb (a_p, b_p, c_p) structure into a P1a1 (a_s=2a_p, b_s=b_p, c_s=a_p+c_p) superstructure phase.     

Colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence sensing of fluoride ions based on competitive intra- and intermolecular proton transfer

Receptors 1 and 4 show fluoride ion selective changes in their absorbance and emission behaviours amongst F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, , CH₃COO⁻, , and anions. Fluoride ion mediated ‘ON-OFF-ON’ switching behaviour of 4 provides opportunities for ratiometric estimation of fluoride ions.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of two new pentaborates

Two new pentaborates, [Zn(DIEN)₂][B₅O₆(OH)₄]₂ (DIEN=diethylenetriamine) (I) and [B₅O₇(OH)₃Zn(TREN)] (TREN=tris(2-aminoethyl)amine) (II), have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Compound I crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c (No. 14), , , , β=91.259(2)°, , Z=2. The structure consists of isolated borate polyanion [B₅O₆(OH)₄]⁻ and zinc complex cation [Zn(DIEN)₂]²⁺. The anionic units, [B₅O₆(OH)₄]⁻, are linked by hydrogen bonds to form a 3D supramolecular network containing large channels, in which the templating [Zn(DIEN)₂]²⁺ cation are located. II is monoclinic, P2₁/c (No. 14), , , , β=99.635(2)°, , Z=4. The structure of II is constructed from two distinct motifs, a usual [B₅O₇(OH)₃]²⁻ cluster and a supporting zinc complex [Zn(TREN)]²⁺, which are integrated through Zn-O-B linkage. This compound represents the first example of the combination of B-O cluster with transition-metal complex.     

Synthesis and application of novel ionic phosphine ligands with a cobaltocenium backbone

Six novel ionic phosphine ligands with a cobaltocenium backbone, 1,1′-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino) cobaltocenium hexafluorophosphate () (1a), 1,1′-bis(di-iso-propylphosphino) cobaltocenium hexafluorophosphate () (2a), 1,1′-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino) cobaltocenium hexafluorophosphate () (3a), and the monophosphine ligand (Cc⁺ = cobaltocenium; R = Cy, 1b; R = i-Pr, 2b; R = t-Bu, 3b) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. These ligands are air-stable and useful for Suzuki coupling reactions in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (), enabling high catalytic activity.     

Anion-induced ring-opening of fluorescein spirolactam: fluorescent OFF-ON

N-(2,7-Dichlorofluorescein)lactam-N′-phenylthiourea (L) was developed as a colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for anions such as AcO⁻, F⁻ and . The addition of AcO⁻ anion to the solution of L in CH₃CN results in a distinct fluorescence “ON” observation as well as color change (from colorless to pink). The H-bonding interaction between AcO⁻ anion and thiourea moiety of L induced the ring-opening of the spirolactam of fluorescein moiety, which gave rise to the dual chromo- and fluorogenic changes.