A mesoporous 3D hybrid material with dual functionality for Hg2+ detection and adsorption

Dual-function hybrid material U1 was designed for simultaneous chromofluorogenic detection and removal of Hg(2+) in an aqueous environment. Mesoporous material UVM-7 (MCM41 type) with homogeneously distributed pores of about 2-3 nm in size, a large specific surface area exceeding 1000 m(2) g(-1), and nanoscale particles was used as an inorganic support. The mesoporous solid is decorated with thiol groups that were treated with squaraine dye III to give a 2,4-bis(4-dialkylaminophenyl)-3-hydroxy-4-alkylsulfanylcyclobut-2-enone (APC) derivative that is covalently anchored to the inorganic silica matrix. The solid was characterised by various techniques including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption. This hybrid solid is the chemodosimeter for Hg(2+) detection. Hg(2+) reacts with the APC fragment in U1 with release of the squaraine dye into the solution, which turns deep blue and fluoresces strongly. Naked-eye Hg(2+) detection is thus accomplished in an easy-to-use procedure. In contrast, U1 remains silent in the presence of other thiophilic transition metal ions, alkali and alkaline earth metal ions, or anions ubiquitously present in water such as chloride, carbonate, sulfate, and phosphate. Material U1 acts not only as chemodosimeter that signals the presence of Hg(2+) down to parts-per-billion concentrations, but at the same time is also an excellent adsorbent for the removal of mercury cations from aqueous solutions. The amount of adsorbed mercury ranges from 0.7 to 1.7 mmol g(-1), depending on the degree of functionalisation. In addition, hybrid material U1 can be regenerated for both sensing and removal purposes. As far as we know, U1 is the first example of a promising new class of polyfunctional hybrid supports that can be used as both remediation and alarm systems by selective signalling and removal of target species of environmental importance. Model compounds based on silica gel (G1), fumed silica (F1), and micrometre-sized MCM-41 scaffolds (M1) were also prepared and studied for comparative purposes.     

New color chemosensors for cyanide based on water soluble azo dyes

Cyanide detection in pure water is important for many applications. We present a novel type of chemodosimeter azo dye developed on the basis of the benzophenone as the electrophilic receptor of the cyanide anion and a saccharidic moiety to render the dye water soluble. This chemodosimeter is found to be highly selective and tunable toward only cyanide in pure water.     

A reaction-based chromogenic and fluorescent chemodosimeter for fluoride anions

An innovative trihexylsilylacetylene-containing BODIPY dye was designed and proved to be a highly selective, sensitive, and fast chromogenic and fluorescent chemodosimeter for fluorides.     

Ratiometric fluorescence chemodosimeter for mercuric ions through the Hg(II)-mediated propargyl amide to oxazole transformation

A coumarin-based alkyne was developed as a fluorescent chemodosimeter for the selective detection of mercuric ion. The probe showed a highly selective and ratiometric response toward Hg(II) ion over other metal ions with a micromolar level of limit of detection.     

Supramolecular assembly of a new squaraine and β-cyclodextrin for detection of thiol-containing amino acids in water

A new unsymmetrical aniline-based squaraine (SQ2) bearing binding unit of Hg²⁺ ion was designed and synthesised. SQ2 can form 1:2 inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin, and the resulting complex, which undergoes absorption and fluorescence bleaching upon binding Hg²⁺, can serve as a turn-on colorimetric or fluorescent chemosensor in organic solvent-free aqueous solution for thiol-containing amino acids with high selectivity and tunable measuring range.     

Highly selective fluorescence turn-on chemodosimeter based on rhodamine for nanomolar detection of copper ions

A highly selective fluorescent chemodosimeter based on rhodamine is synthesized which undergoes Cu(2+) driven hydrolysis in aqueous media to produce fluorescence turn-on changes with a detection limit up to the nanomolar range.     

Development of a reversible fluorescent gold sensor with high selectivity

We have designed and synthesized the highly selective and reversible fluorescent chemosensor 1 for Au(3+) by modifications on the fluorescent copper chemodosimeter 2, and we have further demonstrated that chemosensor 1 could be employed to image Au(3+) in living cells.     

An Aggregating Amphiphilic Squaraine: A Light-up Probe That Discriminates Parallel G-Quadruplexes

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are peculiar DNA or RNA tertiary structures that are involved in the regulation of many biological events within mammalian cells, bacteria, and viruses. Although their role as versatile therapeutic targets has been emphasized for 35 years, G4 selectivity over ubiquitous double-stranded DNA/RNA, as well as G4 differentiation by small molecules, still remains challenging. Here, a new amphiphilic dicyanovinyl-substituted squaraine, SQgl , is reported to act as an NIR fluorescent light-up probe discriminating an extensive panel of parallel G4s while it is non-fluorescent in the aggregated state. The squaraine can form an unconventional sandwich π-complex binding two quadruplexes, which leads to a strongly fluorescent (Φ_F=0.61) supramolecular architecture. SQgl is highly selective against non-quadruplex and non-parallel G4 sequences without altering their topology, as desired for applications in selective in vivo high-resolution imaging and theranostics.     

A highly selective colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent chemodosimeter for imaging fluoride ions in living cells

A simple but highly selective colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent chemodosimeter was designed and synthesized to detect fluoride ions (F(-)) in aqueous solution and living cells by virtue of the strong affinity of F(-) toward silicon.     

A 4-hydroxynaphthalimide-derived ratiometric fluorescent chemodosimeter for imaging palladium in living cells

A highly selective ratiometric fluorescent chemodosimeter derived from 4-hydroxynaphthalimide was designed and synthesized to image palladium species in living cells by virtue of a palladium-catalyzed depropargylation reaction, and it could monitor three typical palladium species (0, + 2 and + 4) without additional reagents.     

An Aggregating Amphiphilic Squaraine: A Light‐up Probe That Discriminates Parallel G‐Quadruplexes

G‐quadruplexes (G4s) are peculiar DNA or RNA tertiary structures that are involved in the regulation of many biological events within mammalian cells, bacteria, and viruses. Although their role as versatile therapeutic targets has been emphasized for 35 years, G4 selectivity over ubiquitous double‐stranded DNA/RNA, as well as G4 differentiation by small molecules, still remains challenging. Here, a new amphiphilic dicyanovinyl‐substituted squaraine, SQgl , is reported to act as an NIR fluorescent light‐up probe discriminating an extensive panel of parallel G4s while it is non‐fluorescent in the aggregated state. The squaraine can form an unconventional sandwich π‐complex binding two quadruplexes, which leads to a strongly fluorescent (Φ _F=0.61) supramolecular architecture. SQgl is highly selective against non‐quadruplex and non‐parallel G4 sequences without altering their topology, as desired for applications in selective in vivo high‐resolution imaging and theranostics.     

An Iminocoumarin Sulfonamide Based Turn‐On Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of Biothiols in Aqueous Solution

A new chemodosimeter for the highly selective sensing and imaging of biothiols was designed and realized in phosphate‐buffered saline solution at pH 7.4 through a fluorescence “off–on” response. A unique mechanism featuring a two‐step cascade (biothiols→H₂O) sequence for this remarkable recognition is disclosed for the first time.     

A selective, sensitive, and chromogenic chemodosimeter for cyanide based on the 1,1'-binaphthyl scaffold

A highly selective chemodosimeter 1 for cyanide based on the 1,1'-binaphthyl skeleton is described which demonstrated significant visual change and a low limit of detection. Interestingly, a reversible process triggered successively by CN(-) and Au(3+) is also observed and determined by fluorescence, UV-vis spectra, (1)H NMR titration, and ESI-MS.     

A novel retro-reaction strategy toward designing a selective fluorescence Cu(II) chemodosimeter

A novel C9 acridane-adduct, featuring ketobenzimidazole chelate, functions as a highly selective fluorescent chemodosimeter for Cu²⁺, while other metal ions pose little interferences, if any. The signaling strategy operates via the Cu²⁺-mediated retro-reaction, generating a strongly fluorescent acridinium ion at the expense of the weakly emitting probe.     

A selective colorimetric chemodosimeter for the naked eye detection of benzoate anion

A new semicarbazide biphenyl derivative is able to act as a selective chemodosimeter for benzoate.     

Highly Selective In Vivo Imaging of Endogenous/Exogenous Phosphate Ion over ATP and PPi

A chemodosimeter was designed to function as a highly selective phosphate ion (P_i) sensor, showing a 91‐fold ratiometric fluorescence enhancement. The probe successfully visualized exogenous and endogenous apyrase‐catalyzed P_i generation and was the first probe able to trace the generation and enrichment of P_i through hemichannel closure in Sf9 cells.     

Ferrocene-based novel electrochemical chemodosimeter for mercury ion recognition

A new ferrocene-based electrochemical chemodosimeter (1) for mercury(II) ion was prepared and characterized by X-ray crystal analysis. Among various metal ions, 1 displays highly selective electrochemical signaling changes for Hg²⁺ over other metal ions in regard to a mercury-promoted intramolecular cyclic guanylation of thiourea.     

New BODIPY derivatives as OFF-ON fluorescent chemosensor and fluorescent chemodosimeter for Cu2+: cooperative selectivity enhancement toward Cu2+

New 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) derivatives (1 and 2) were synthesized as an "off-on" fluorescent chemosensor and fluorescent chemodosimeter for Cu2+ and Pb2+. Compound 1 displayed selective and large chelation enhanced fluorescence effects with Pb2+ and Cu2+ among the metal ions examined. On the other hand, compound 2, a fluorescent chemodosimeter, effectively recognized Cu2+ via a selective hydrolysis of the acetyl group.     

A selective colorimetric chemosensor for thiols based on intramolecular charge transfer mechanism

Compound 1 as an electron donor-acceptor compound with N,N-dimethylaniline and quinone units was designed for a highly selective colorimetric determination of thiol-containing amino acids and peptides, by making use of the unique reactivity of thiol towards quinone. Compound 1 shows a strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) band around 582 nm; but, it decreased after addition of either cysteine (Cys) or glutathione (GSH). Moreover, the ICT band intensity at 582 nm decreased linearly with the increasing concentrations of Cys or GSH. The interference from other amino acids can be neglected. Therefore, compound 1 can be employed as a selective colorimetric visual chemosensor for thiol-containing amino acids and peptides.     

Water-soluble, deep-red fluorescent squaraine rotaxanes

Eight fluorescent squaraine rotaxanes with deep-red absorption/emission wavelengths were prepared and assessed for chemical stability and suitability as water-soluble, fluorescent tracers. The most stable squaraine rotaxanes have four large stopper groups attached to the ends of the encapsulated squaraine, and two members of this structural class have promise as highly fluorescent tracers with rapid renal clearance and very low tissue uptake in living mice.