Near‐infrared electroluminescence from fluorene‐based copolymers

A series of random low band‐gap conjugated copolymers (PFO‐DDTQ) derived from 9,9‐dioctylfluorene (DOF) and 6,7‐dimethyl‐4,9‐di(4‐hexylthien‐2‐yl)‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxalines (DDTQ) are prepared by the palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. The obtained polymers are readily soluble in common organic solvents. The thin solid films of the polymers absorb light from 300 to 840 nm with two absorbance peaks at around 380 and 710 nm. Electroluminescent peaks are between 0.8 and 0.9 μm based on the polymers. The maximal external quantum efficiency reaches 0.30% with the emission peak at 824 nm from PFO‐DDTQ1 based devices. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3007–3013, 2008     

Efficient Luminescence from Fluorene‐ and Spirobifluorene‐Based Lanthanide Complexes upon Near‐Visible Irradiation

We describe herein the synthesis and photophysical characterization of new lanthanide complexes that consist of a (9,9‐dimethylfluoren‐2‐yl)‐2‐oxoethyl or a (9,9′‐spirobifluoren‐2‐yl)‐2‐oxoethyl unit as the antenna, covalently linked to a 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7‐triacetic acid (DO3A) unit as the Ln³⁺ (Gd³⁺, Eu³⁺, Sm³⁺, Tb³⁺, Dy³⁺) coordination site. We were able to translate the spectroscopic properties of the innovative bipartite ligands into the formation of highly luminescent europium complexes that exhibit efficient emission (?_se>0.1) upon sensitization in the near‐visible region, that is, with an excitation wavelength above 350 nm. The luminescence of the Eu³⁺complexes is clearly detectable at concentrations as low as 10 pM . Furthermore, the structural organization of these bipartite ligands makes the complexes highly soluble in aqueous solutions and chemically stable over time.     

古紫质AR4重组的磷脂脂质体中的定向自组装

This paper reports, for the first time, that Archaerhodopsin-4 (AR4) could be reconstituted into phospholipid liposomes by self-assembly. AR4 is a new membrane protein isolated from halobacteria H.sp. xz515 in a salt lake of Tibet, China. This is a bacteriorhodopsin (bR) like protein, function as a light-driven proton pump. Experimental measurements verified that similar to bR, AR not only remains its biological activity in pmteoliposome, but also keeps a preferred orientation in self-assembly.     

Pyrazole‐substituted Near‐infrared Cyanine Dyes Exhibit pH‐dependent Fluorescence Lifetime Properties

Near‐infrared heptamethine cyanine dye is functionalized with pyrazole derivatives at the meso‐position to induce pH‐dependent photophysical properties. The presence of pyrazole unsubstituted at ¹N‐position is essential to induce pH‐dependent fluorescence intensity and lifetime changes in these dyes. Replacement of meso‐chloro group of cyanine dye IR820 with ¹N‐unsubstituted pyrazole resulted in the pH‐dependent fluorescence lifetime changes from 0.93 ns in neutral media to 1.27 ns in acidic media in DMSO. Time‐resolved emission spectra (TRES) revealed that at lower pH, the pyrazole consists of fluorophores with two distinct lifetimes, which cor‐responds to pH‐sensitive and non‐pH‐sensitive species. In contrast, ¹N‐substituted pyrazoles do not exhibit pH response, suggesting excited state electron transfer as the mechanism of pH‐dependent fluorescence lifetime sensitivity for this class of compounds.     

A Near‐Infrared Fluorescence‐Based Optical Thermosensor

A polymeric thermosensor composed of the thermo‐responsive block copolymer Pluronic F127 (PF127) and the near‐infrared (NIR) dye Cy5.5 can simply monitor, image, and analyze temperature changes. The thermoprobe exhibited linear NIR fluorescent emission changes (see figure) over a broad temperature range (0–80 °C).

     

Photochromic Free MOF‐Based Near‐Infrared Optical Switch

We demonstrate herein an all‐optical switch based on stimuli‐responsive and photochromic‐free metal–organic framework (HKUST‐1). Ultrafast near‐infrared laser pulses stimulate a reversible 0.4 eV blue shift of the absorption band with up to 200 s^?1 rate due to dehydration and concomitant shrinking of the structure‐forming [Cu₂C₄O₈] cages of HKUST‐1. Such light‐induced switching enables the remote modulation of intensities of photoluminescence of single crystals of HKUST‐1 as well visible radiation passing through the crystal by 2 order of magnitude. This opens up the possibility of utilyzing stimuli‐responsive MOFs for all‐optical data processing devices.     

A Cyanine Photooxidation/β‐Elimination Sequence Enables Near‐infrared Uncaging of Aryl Amine Payloads

Uncaging strategies that use near‐infrared wavelengths can enable the highly targeted delivery of biomolecules in complex settings. Many methods, including an approach we developed using cyanine photooxidation, are limited to phenol‐containing payloads. Given the critical role of amines in diverse biological processes, we sought to use cyanine photooxidation to initiate the release of aryl amines. Heptamethine cyanines substituted with an aryl amine at the C4′ position undergo only inefficient release, likely due electronic factors. We then pursued the hypothesis that the carbonyl products derived from cyanine photooxidation could undergo efficient β‐elimination. After examining both symmetrical and unsymmetrical scaffolds, we identify a merocyanine substituted with indolenine and coumarin heterocycles that undergoes efficient photooxidation and aniline uncaging. In total, these studies provide a new scheme—cyanine photooxidation followed by β‐elimination—through which to design photocages with efficient uncaging properties.     

Synthesis of Redshifted Azobenzene Photoswitches by Late‐Stage Functionalization

Azobenzenes are versatile photoswitches that can be cycled between their trans‐ and cis‐configuration with light. The wavelengths required for this isomerization are substantially shifted from the UV to the visible range through tetra‐ortho‐chlorination. These halogenated azobenzenes display unique photoswitching characteristics, but their syntheses remain limited and inefficient. A new general method for the synthesis of tetra‐ortho‐chloro azobenzenes has been developed, which relies on direct palladium(II)‐catalyzed C?H activation of pre‐existing standard azobenzenes. This late‐stage functionalization has a broad substrate scope and can be used to create a variety of useful building blocks for the construction of more elaborate redshifted photopharmaceuticals. This method is used to prepare red‐ AzCA‐4 , a photoswitchable vanilloid that enables optical control of the cation channel TRPV1 with visible light.     

Near‐Infrared Optogenetic Genome Engineering Based on Photon‐Upconversion Hydrogels

Photon upconversion (UC) from near‐infrared (NIR) light to visible light has enabled optogenetic manipulations in deep tissues. However, materials for NIR optogenetics have been limited to inorganic UC nanoparticles. Herein, NIR‐light‐triggered optogenetics using biocompatible, organic TTA‐UC hydrogels is reported. To achieve triplet sensitization even in highly viscous hydrogel matrices, a NIR‐absorbing complex is covalently linked with energy‐pooling acceptor chromophores, which significantly elongates the donor triplet lifetime. The donor and acceptor are solubilized in hydrogels formed from biocompatible Pluronic F127 micelles, and heat treatment endows the excited triplets in the hydrogel with remarkable oxygen tolerance. Combined with photoactivatable Cre recombinase technology, NIR‐light stimulation successfully performs genome engineering resulting in the formation of dendritic‐spine‐like structures of hippocampal neurons.     

Rational Design of a Near‐infrared Fluorescence Probe for Ca2+ Based on Phosphorus‐substituted Rhodamines Utilizing Photoinduced Electron Transfer

Fluorescence imaging in the near‐infrared (NIR) region (650–900 nm) is useful for bioimaging because background autofluorescence is low and tissue penetration is high in this range. In addition, NIR fluorescence is useful as a complementary color window to green and red for multicolor imaging. Here, we compared the photoinduced electron transfer (PeT)‐mediated fluorescence quenching of silicon‐ and phosphorus‐substituted rhodamines (SiRs and PRs) in order to guide the development of improved far‐red to NIR fluorescent dyes. The results of density functional theory calculations and photophysical evaluation of a series of newly synthesized PRs confirmed that the fluorescence of PRs was more susceptible than that of SiRs to quenching via PeT. Based on this, we designed and synthesized a NIR fluorescence probe for Ca²⁺, CaPR‐1 , and its membrane‐permeable acetoxymethyl derivative, CaPR‐1 AM , which is distributed to the cytosol, in marked contrast to our previously reported Ca²⁺ far‐red to NIR fluorescence probe based on the SiR scaffold, CaSiR‐1 AM , which is mainly localized in lysosomes as well as cytosol in living cells. CaPR‐1 showed longer‐wavelength absorption and emission (up to 712 nm) than CaSiR‐1 . The new probe was able to image Ca²⁺ at dendrites and spines in brain slices, and should be a useful tool in neuroscience research.     

Near‐infrared electrochromic poly(aryl ether)s based on isolated electroactive tetraphenyl‐p‐phenylenediamine moieties

A series of near‐infrared (NIR) electrochromic aromatic poly(aryl ether)s containing N,N,N′,N′‐tetraphenyl‐p‐phenylenediamine (TPPA) moieties in the backbone were prepared from the high‐temperature polycondensation reactions of a biphenol monomer, 2,5‐bis(diphenylamino)hydroquinone, with difluoro compounds. The obtained polymers were readily soluble in many organic solvents and showed useful levels of thermal stability associated with high glass‐transition temperatures (182–205 °C) and high char yields (higher than 40% at 800 °C in nitrogen). The polymer films showed reversible electrochemical oxidation with high contrast ratio both in the visible range and NIR region, and also exhibited high coloration efficiency (CE), low switching time, and stability for electrochromic operation. The polyether TPPA‐a thin film revealed good CE in visible (CE = 217 cm²/C) and NIR (CE = 192 cm²/C) region with reversible electroactive stability (over 500 times within 5% loss relative to its initial injected charge). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5378–5385, 2009     

Aptamer‐Based Luminescence Energy Transfer from Near‐Infrared‐to‐Near‐Infrared Upconverting Nanoparticles to Gold Nanorods and Its Application for the Detection of Thrombin

A new luminescence energy transfer (LET) system has been designed for the detection of thrombin in the near‐infrared (NIR) region by utilizing NIR‐to‐NIR upconversion lanthanide nanophosphors (UCNPs) as the donor and gold nanorods (Au NRs) as the acceptor. The use of upconverting NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ nanoparticles with sharp NIR emission peaks upon NIR excitation by an inexpensive infrared continuous wave laser diode provided large spectral overlap between the donor and the acceptor. Both the Au NRs and carboxyl‐terminated NaYF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ UCNPs were first modified with different thrombin aptamers. When thrombin was added, a LET system was then formed because of the specific recognition between the thrombin aptamers and thrombin. The LET system was used to monitor thrombin concentrations in aqueous buffer and human blood samples. The limits of detection for thrombin are as low as 0.118 nM in buffer solution and 0.129 nM in human serum. The method was also successfully applied to thrombin detection in blood samples.     

Near‐Infrared Quadrupolar Chromophores Combining Three‐Coordinate Boron‐Based Superdonor and Superacceptor Units

Herein, two new quadrupolar acceptor‐π‐donor‐π‐acceptor (A‐π‐D‐π‐A) chromophores have been prepared featuring a strongly electron‐donating diborene core and strongly electron‐accepting dimesitylboryl (BMes₂) and bis(2,4,6‐tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)boryl (B^FMes₂) end groups. Analysis of the compounds by NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, and UV/Vis‐NIR absorption and emission spectroscopy indicated that the compounds have extended conjugated π‐systems spanning their B₄C₈ cores. The combination of exceptionally potent π‐donor (diborene) and π‐acceptor (diarylboryl) groups, both based on trigonal boron, leads to very small HOMO–LUMO gaps, resulting in strong absorption in the near‐IR region with maxima in THF at 840 and 1092 nm and very high extinction coefficients of ca. 120 000 m ^?1 cm^?1. Both molecules also display weak near‐IR fluorescence with small Stokes shifts.     

Formic Acid Dehydrogenation on Au‐Based Catalysts at Near‐Ambient Temperatures

Selective HCOOH decomposition to H ₂ /CO ₂ on Au : Au species catalyze HCOOH dehydrogenation at higher rates than on Pt, previously considered the most active metal. Dehydrogenation occurs through formate decomposition limited by H₂ desorption on Au species undetectable by TEM. CO did not form (<10 ppm), making products suitable for low‐temperature fuel cells.

     

Far‐Red and Near‐IR AIE‐Active Fluorescent Organic Nanoprobes with Enhanced Tumor‐Targeting Efficacy: Shape‐Specific Effects

The rational design of high‐performance fluorescent materials for cancer targeting in vivo is still challenging. A unique molecular design strategy is presented that involves tailoring aggregation‐induced emission (AIE)‐active organic molecules to realize preferable far‐red and NIR fluorescence, well‐controlled morphology (from rod‐like to spherical), and also tumor‐targeted bioimaging. The shape‐tailored organic quinoline–malononitrile (QM) nanoprobes are biocompatible and highly desirable for cell‐tracking applications. Impressively, the spherical shape of QM‐5 nanoaggregates exhibits excellent tumor‐targeted bioimaging performance after intravenously injection into mice, but not the rod‐like aggregates of QM‐2.     

偏最小二乘回归用于近红外光谱分析的稳健策略

偏最小二乘法（PLS）在近红外光谱（NIR）定量分析中占有重要地位,但预测结果往往容易受到样本分组和奇异样本等因素的影响,稳健性不强。多模型PLS (EPLS）方法在模型稳健性上得到提高,然而它无法识别样本中存在的奇异样本。为了同时提高模型的预测准确性和稳健性,本文提出了一种根据取样概率重新取样的多模型PLS方法,称为稳健共识PLS（RE-PLS）方法。该方法通过迭代赋权偏最小二乘法(IRPLS)计算样本回归残差得到每个校正集样本的取样概率,然后根据样本的取样概率来选择训练子集建立多个PLS模型,最后将所有PLS模型的预测结果平均作为最终预测结果。该方法用于两种不同植物样品的近红外光谱建模,并与传统的PLS及EPLS方法进行比较。结果表明该方法可以有效的避免校正集中奇异样本对模型的影响,同时可以提高预测精确度和稳健性。对于含有较多奇异样本的,复杂近红外光谱烟草实际样本,利用简单PLS或者EPLS方法建模预测效果不是很理想,而RE-PLS凭借其独特优势则有望在这种复杂光谱定量分析中得到广泛的应用。     

Redox‐Active Peptide‐Functionalized Quinquethiophene‐Based Electrochromic π‐Gel

An electrochromic system based on a self‐assembled dipeptide‐appended redox‐active quinquethiophene π‐gel is reported. The designed peptide‐quinquethiophene consists of a symmetric bolaamphiphile that has two segments: a redox‐active π‐conjugated quinquethiophene core for electrochromism, and peptide motif for the involvement of molecular self‐assembly. Investigations reveal that self‐assembly and electrochromic properties of the π‐gel are strongly dependent on the relative orientation of peptidic and quinquethiophene scaffolds in the self‐assembly system. The colors of the π‐gel film are very stable with fast and controlled switching speed at room temperature.