Probing Supramolecular Interactions between a Crown Ether Appended Zinc Phthalocyanine and an Ammonium Group Appended to a C60 Derivative

Self‐assembly driven by crown ether complexation of zinc phthalocyanines equipped with one 18‐crown‐6 moiety and fullerenes bearing an ammonium head group afforded a novel donor–acceptor hybrid. In reference experiments, fullerenes containing a Boc‐protected amine functionality have been probed. The circumvention of zinc phthalocyanine aggregation is important for the self‐assembly, which required the addition of pyridine. From absorption and fluorescence titration assays, which provided sound and unambiguous evidence for mutual interactions between the electron donor and the electron acceptor within the hybrids, association constants in the order of 8.0×10⁵ m ^?1 have been derived. The aforementioned is based on 1:1 stoichiometries, which have been independently confirmed by Job's plot measurements. In the excited state, which has been examined by transient absorption experiments, intermolecular charge separation evolves from the photoexcited zinc phthalocyanine to the fullerene subunit and leads to short‐lived charge‐separated states. Interestingly, photoexcitation of zinc phthalocyanine dimers/aggregates can also be followed by an intermolecular charge separation between vicinal phthalocyanines. These multicomponent supramolecular ensembles have also been shown by in‐depth electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) studies, giving rise to the formation and detection of a variety of non‐covalently linked species.     

Ratiometric, fluorescent BODIPY dye with aza crown ether functionality: synthesis, solvatochromism, and metal ion complex formation

A new pH and metal ion-responsive BODIPY-based fluorescent probe with an aza crown ether subunit has been synthesized via condensation of 4-(1,4,7,10-tetraoxa-13-aza-cyclopentadec-13-yl)-benzaldehyde with the appropriate 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl substituted boron dipyrromethene moiety. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorometries have been used to study the spectroscopic and photophysical characteristics of this probe in various solvents. The fluorescence properties of the dye are strongly solvent dependent: increasing the solvent polarity leads to lower fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes, and the wavelength of maximum fluorescence emission shifts to the red. The Catalan solvent scales are found to be the most suitable for describing the solvatochromic shifts of the fluorescence emission. Fluorescence decay profiles of the dye can be described by a single-exponential fit in nonprotic solvents, whereas two decay times are found in alcohols. Protonation as well as complex formation with several metal ions are investigated in acetonitrile as solvent via fluorometric titrations. The aza crown ether dye undergoes a reversible (de)protonation reaction (pKa = 0.09) and shows a approximately 50 nm blue shift in the excitation spectra and a 10-fold fluorescence increase upon protonation. The compound also forms 1:1 complexes with several metal ions (Li(+), Na(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Ba(2+), Zn(2+)), producing large blue shifts in the excitation spectra and significant cation-induced fluorescence amplifications.     

Chromenone 12-crown-4 substituted zinc phthalocyanine complexes: investigation of spectral, photophysical and photochemical properties

The synthesis of novel 6,7-[(12-crown-4)-3-[p-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)phenyl]coumarin (1), 6,7-[(12-crown-4)-3-[p-(2,3-dicyanophenoxy)phenyl]coumarin (2), and their corresponding tetra-(chromenone 12-crown-4)-substituted zinc (II) phthalocyanine complexes (3 and 4) have been prepared. These new compounds have been characterized by elementel analysis, (1)H NMR (1 and 2), MALDI-TOF, IR and UV-Vis spectral data. The fluorescence intensity changes for 1 and 2 by addition of Na(+) or K(+) ions have been determined at 25°C in THF. Intensity of the binding Na(+)- and K(+)-complexes (1 and 2) have decreased. The effects of the chromenone crown ether on the phthalocyanine molecule concerning photophysical and photochemical properties are also investigated. Photodegredation, singlet oxygen, fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence lifetimes of zinc phthalocyanine complexes (3 and 4) are also examined in DMSO.     

Fluorescence of solid metal-free phthalocyanine

Solid metal-free phthalocyanine fluorescence has been studied as a function of polymorphic modification. Pronounced variation in observed fluorescence spectra suggests that fluorescence can be a useful diagnostic tool for study of photophysical properties of solid metal-free phthalocyanine. The observed fluorescence spectra display two bands, one in the 800 nm region, the other in the 900 nm region. The observed lifetimes and temperature dependence suggest that the former band corresponds to the normal molecular fluorescence, whereas the latter arises from excimer emission.     

Visible fluorescence chemosensor for saxitoxin

Absorption spectra of a number of shellfish extracts have been obtained and reveal prominent absorptions in all samples at 210 and 260 nm and at 325 nm in some of them. These absorptions preclude the use of chromophores with similar absorptions in testing of shellfish samples for paralytic shellfish toxins. Two crown ether chemosensors featuring a boron azadipyrrin chromophore have been synthesized; both have absorption maxima at 650 nm, where all the shellfish extracts are transparent. The synthetic sensors feature either 18- or 27-membered crown ether rings and have been evaluated as visible sensors for the paralytic shellfish toxin saxitoxin. The binding constant for one of them is in the range of 3-9x10(5) M-1 and exhibits a fluorescence enhancement of over 100% at 680 nm in the presence of 40 microM saxitoxin.     

Synthesis and properties of crown ether functionalized coumarin substituted zinc phthalocyanine

The novel 6,7-[15-crown-5]-3-[p-(2,3-dicyanophenoxy)phenyl]coumarin (1) and its non-peripherally substituted zinc phthalocyanine complex (2) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR (for compound 1), MALDI-TOF, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectral data. Fluorescence intensity changes of compound 1 have been determined by addition of Na⁺ or K⁺ ions at 25 °C in THF. The effects of the chromenone crown ether substituent of the phthalocyanine molecule on the photophysical (fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime) and photochemical (singlet oxygen generation and photodegradation) properties were also investigated. The fluorescence of the zinc phthalocyanine complex is effectively quenched by addition of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ).     

Towards a photophysical model for 5-hydroxyflavone

The photophysics of the 5-hydroxyflavone (5HF) molecule has been revised. Conversely to what has been hitherto reported, the proton-transfer fluorescence of 5HF has been recorded under xenon lamp excitation in cyclohexane, hexane, ethanol, ethyl ether, 2-methyl-2-propanol, and dimethylsulfoxide at room temperature. The 5HF fluorescence spectra only exhibit one emission band centered at ca. 700 nm. A small photoreaction quantum yield of 10(-5)-10(-6) denotes the great photostability exemplified by 5HF in hydrocarbon solvent, ethanol, and dimethylsulfoxide. This great photostability is predominantly explained owing to an internal conversion process from the first excited singlet state 1(pi,pi*)1 (S1), which has a repulsive (proton-transfer) potential energy curve with respect to the stretching of the OH bond and only one energy minimum for the proton-transfer tautomer. The S1'-S0' energy gap proves to be small because of important modifications found in the molecular geometry of 5HF upon photoexcitation. A computational strategy, based upon theoretical calculations at the B3LYP density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT levels, supports the experimental spectroscopic evidence. Also an abnormal singlet-triplet splitting for a pi,pi* configuration has been found in 5HF.     

Synthesis and study of crown ether-appended boron dipyrrin chemosensors for cation detection

Boron dipyrrin (BDP) bearing crown ethers of varying cavity sizes, namely, 15-crown-5, 18-crown-6, and 21-crown-7, at the meso-position are synthesized and employed as chemosensors for cation detection in solution. In the absence of metal cations, the emission of the BDP moiety is found to be quenched to some extent by an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process from the donor oxygen atoms to the acceptor BDP unit. Coordination of metal ions to the oxygen donor atoms in the crown ether cavity inhibits intramolecular charge transfer to the BDP acceptor, leading to cation-induced fluorescence enhancement. The fluorescence enhancement is systematically probed as a function of crown ether cavity and metal ion sizes to achieve metal ion selectivity.     

The luminescent properties of divalent europium complexes of crown ethers and cryptands

The luminescent properties of divalent europium complexes with crown ether, azacrown ether, N-pivot-azacrown ether, and cryptand in methanol or water have been systematically investigated under UV irradiation. These divalent europium complexes show greatly enhanced emission from 417 nm to 488 nm in the visible blue region in comparison with that of the methanol solution of EuCl₂. The aqueous solution of EuCl₂ is non-luminescent. This obvious distinction in luminescent properties between the macrocyclic ligand-coordinated divalent europium and uncoordinated divalent europium is attributed to the “insulation effect” of Eu²⁺ ion from the solvent molecules of CH₃OH and H₂O by the macrocyclic crown ether or cryptand encapsulation to divalent europium. Moreover, these macrocyclic ligands provide an additional restriction to the electronic charge expansion of the excited Eu²⁺. This also contributes to the enhancement of the Eu²⁺ luminescence. Among all the investigated macrocyclic ligands, 15-crown-5 (15C5) affords the largest enhancement to the Eu²⁺ emission. The intensity of the Eu²⁺–15C5 complex is 690 times that of the EuCl₂ methanol solution with the same Eu²⁺ concentration. This special emission enhancement effect is related to the particular complex composition of 1:3 (Eu²⁺:15C5) and corresponding configuration of Eu²⁺–15C5 complex in methanol. Concerning the mechanism, the luminescence enhancement of divalent europium by complexation with these macrocyclic crown ether or cryptand ligands is found to be initiated from the decrease in non-radiative rate constant rather than from the increase in radiative one.

The divalent europium complexes of methacrylate polymeric polyether derivatives such as 15C5-, 18-crown-6- (18C6), and cryptand [2.2.1]- or [2.2.2]-containing polymer and copolymer have also been prepared. Their luminescent properties in solid state have been studied to aim for practical application. As a similar situation to the simple polyether complexes, the divalent europium complex with 15C5-containing polymer or copolymer shows the largest luminescent enhancement effect. Its emission intensity reaches about 20% that of the commercial inorganic luminescence product CaWO₄:Pb (NBS 1026). In addition, the doping effect of several divalent ions, namely Mg, Sr, Ba and Zn in polymeric complexes, has also been investigated according to the luminescence concentration quenching mechanism in solid state luminescence materials. The emission intensity of 15C5-containing polymer europium(II) complex is raised to twice stronger by doping of Zn²⁺ ion.     

A new fluorescent calix crown ether: synthesis and complex formation with alkali metal ions

We synthesised a new N-benzylaza-21-crown-7 ether 5 with a dihydroxy coumarin as a fluorescence sensor and investigated the binding behaviour towards alkali metal cations in methanol by fluorescence titrations. The association constants are within one order of magnitude, with the exception of sodium. Potassium is the preferred binding partner (K(Na)=330 M(-1); K(K)=8600 M(-1); K(Rb)=8200 M(-1); K(Cs)=4400 M(-1)). The corresponding aza-21-crown-7 ether (6) was attached by a methylene unit to a resorcarene to give fluorescent calix crown ether 12. The binding abilities of the calix crown ether towards alkali metal ions in methanol have also been investigated, and an increasing complex stability, distinct for potassium and rubidium in comparison with 5, was found: K(Na)=440 M(-1); K(K)=110,000 M(-1); K(Rb)=63,000 M(-1); K(Cs)=20,000 M(-1). Like bis(crown ether)s, a cooperative complexation of the crown ether and the cavitand scaffold can be assumed. The proposed complex geometry is supported by Kohn-Sham DFT calculations for the potassium and caesium complexes.     

Synthesis and Cation Recognition Study of Novel Benzo Crown Ether Functionalized Enamine Derivatives

A novel series of benzo crown ether (dibenzo 18-crown-6 ether, benzo 18-crown-6 ether, and benzo 15-crown-5 ether) functionalized enamines derivatives from amino benzo crown ether (4-amino dibenzo 18-crown-6 ether, 4-amino benzo 18-crown-6 ether, 4-amino benzo 15-crown-5 ether) and substituted 3-(dimethylamino)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one compounds have been synthesized. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, distortionless enhancement polarization transfer, and mass and elemental analysis techniques. The cation recognition property for benzo crown ether enamine 8a was studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Photophysical properties of crowned porphyrins

In this study, we evaluated the photophysical properties of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxacyclopentadecane-2-aminomethyl)2,3,5,6-(tetrafluoro)-phenyl]-porphyrin (H2C4P) and Zn(II)5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxacyclopenta-decane-2-aminomethyl)2,3,5,6-(tetrafluoro)-phenyl]-porphyrinate (ZnC4P). We observed that these porphyrins have unique properties when compared with classical porphyrins. The porphyrins H2C4P and ZnC4P showed efficient transfer energy S1 to T1 by intersystem crossing with high and reasonable yields of triplet excited state and singlet oxygen production. These amphiphilic structures of these porphyrins could improve its localization in the tumor cells due to the presence of the crown ether in its framework. We also believed that the crown ether could modulate the change in ion homeostase (Ca(+2), K+, Na+) as already described by some new phthalocyanine dye. This fact makes us believe that it could be reasonably used as a photosensitizer for PDT purposes.     

Intraparticle charge delocalization of carbene-functionalized ruthenium nanoparticles manipulated by selective ion binding

Olefin metathesis reactions of carbene-stabilized ruthenium nanoparticles were exploited for the incorporation of multiple functional moieties onto the nanoparticle surface. When the nanoparticles were cofunctionalized with 4-vinylbenzo-18-crown-6 and 1-vinylpyrene, the resulting particles exhibited fluorescence characteristics that were consistent with dimeric pyrene with a conjugated chemical bridge, with three peaks observed in the emission spectra at 391, 410, and 485 nm. The behaviors were ascribed to intraparticle charge delocalization between the pyrene moieties afforded by the conjugated Ru═carbene interfacial linkages. Notably, upon the binding of metal ions in the crown ether cavity, the emission intensity of the nanoparticle fluorescence was found to diminish at 485 nm and concurrently increase at 391 and 410 nm rather markedly, with the most significant effects observed with K(+). This was accounted for by the selective binding of 18-crown-6 to potassium ions, where the positively charged ions led to the polarization of the nanoparticle core electrons that was facililated by the conjugated linkage to the metal surface and hence impeded intraparticle charge delocalization. Control experiments with a pyrene-crown ether conjugate (2) and with ruthenium nanoparticles cofunctionalized with 4-vinylbenzo-18-crown-6 and 1-allylpyrene suggested that the through-bond pathway played a predominant role in the manipulation of intraparticle electronic communication whereas the contributions from simple electrostatic interactions (i.e., through-space pathway) were minimal.     

不同代硝基芳基苄醚树枝配体轴向取代硅(Ⅳ)酞菁光物理性质的比较

在二氯硅酞菁轴向位置引入硝基芳基苄醚树枝配体是一种减少酞菁配合物聚集体形成,提高其光动力活性的有效方法。本文采用UV/Vis、稳态和瞬态荧光光谱法比较了1-3代硝基芳基苄醚树枝配体轴向取代硅(Ⅳ)酞菁的光物理性质。研究结果表明,随着轴向树枝配体代数的增加,Q带最大吸收峰强度增大,酞菁核荧光强度增强,荧光量子产率降低,荧光寿命增长。研究结果将为开发轴向取代硅(Ⅳ)酞菁配合物作为新型光敏剂提供重要的理论依据。     

Absorption and fluorescence properties of acridinones,thioacridinones, aminoacridines and related crown ethers

We report a study on the absorptive and emissive properties of 9‐acridinones, 9‐thioacridinones and 9‐aminoacridines including six crown ether derivatives. The effect of solvents and of the addition of cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca2⁺ and Mg2⁺) on these properties has been studied. The absorption of the crown ether derivative of 9‐thioacridinone is sensitive to solvents while the fluorescence of crown ethers derived from 9‐aminoacridines shows some specificity towards cations. Empirical modeling was used to discuss the emission characteristics of these compounds.     

Study on the new fluorescence enhancement system of Tb-1,10-bis(2′-carboxylphenyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraoxadecane in silver chloride collosol and its analytical application

A new salicylic-based open-chain crown ether ligand, 1,10-bis(2′-carboxylphenyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraoxadecane (BCPTD) was synthesized. Solutions of its complex with Tb³⁺ can emit the intrinsic fluorescence of Tb³⁺. The fluorescence intensity of the complex in KCl solution was enhanced by the addition of silver(I), leading to a new fluorescence enhancement phenomenon. The spectrofluorimetric determination of traces of silver(I) based on the above phenomenon was carried out. The excitation and emission wavelengths are 298 and 545 nm, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the differential value of fluorescence intensity in the absence and presence of Ag⁺ was proportional to the concentration of silver(I) in the range 0.5-20 μg ml⁻¹. The method was applied to the determination of silver(I) in a standard ore sample. The analytical performance is investigated in detail by using common aromatic carboxylic acids or synthetic analogues of BCPTD as ligands to replace BCPTD. It was found that Tb-aromatic acid complexes did not result in fluorescence enhancement of Tb³⁺ in AgCl collosol. The phenomenon was only observed in Tb(III) with BCPTD or its open-chain crown ether analogues solutions.In addition, the enhancement of the fluorescence intensity of terbium(III) in these complexes depends on the extent of formation of the AgCl collosol.     

双8-羟基喹啉端开链冠醚金属络合物的光物理性质

设计合成了双8-羟基喹啉端的开链冠醚QP3Q,研究了金属离子铝或锌与其形成络合物的组成和发光性质,并测定了络合物的激发态寿命.这些络合物在溶液中有较高的荧光量子产率,所得到的络合物固体具有较强的蓝光发光性能.结果表明,有可能通过QP3Q与不同离子形成的络合物得到不同发光波长的发光材料.     

高效液相色谱法测定1,1’-联萘-2,2’-二酚的光学纯度

用高效液相色谱法测定了1,1’-联禁-2,2’-二酚的光学纯度。色谱柱:Si-5柱,流动相:石油醚／乙醇（93／7,V／V）。方法简便、快速、准确,准确度为98.6％～101.6％,相对平均偏差为1.01％。     

Cation complexation behavior of pyrene- and anthracene-appended new crown ether derivatives

Pyrene- and anthracene-appended new crown ether derivatives have been synthesized by Schiff's base reaction, and cation complexation behavior was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy measurements. Based on photo-induced electron transfer and intramolecular charge transfer mechanism, the host molecules emit stronger fluorescence in the presence of various cations Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+) and NH(4)(+) since the complexation between guest cations and crown ether compounds inhibit partial electron transfer from the nitrogen atom to the chromophores and subsequently fluorescence is enhanced. The binding constants were estimated from the plots of the fraction of binding sites filled for crown ether compound as a function of free-ion concentration. Results show that 15-crown-5 derivatives exhibit higher binding ability with sodium cations while 18-crown-6 derivatives had higher affinity for potassium cations, which is consistent with the hole-size relationship of the crown ethers. Ammonium ion complexation caused largest fluorescence enhancement. It is understood that ammonium ion cannot only complex with crown ether, but also interact directly with the lone pair electrons of nitrogen atom in C=N bond so that electron transfer from the nitrogen atom to chromophores is further inhibited.     

Structure control for fine tuning fluorescence emission from side-chain azobenzene polymers

New fluorescent azobenzene dyes and side-chain polymers have been synthesized and characterized and their photophysical properties studied. A series of azobenzene dyes having different fluorophores such as phenol (S1), phenylphenol (S2) and naphthol (S3) incorporated in them were synthesized. S2 had unusually high fluorescence with a quantum yield of phi f = 0.2 recorded in dichloromethane (DCM), whereas S1 and S3 were found to be weakly fluorescent. The azobenzene dyes were converted into methacrylate monomers having short ethyleneoxy spacers and then free radically polymerized. Phenylphenol-based azobenzene polymer (P2) continued to show fluorescence, whereas fluorescence was completely quenched in the case of phenol (P1)- and naphthol (P3)-based polymers. Phenylphenol, though twisted in the ground state is known to have a more planar geometry in the excited state--a factor that enables it to retain its fluorescence behavior even when it is incorporated as part of an azobenzene unit. In contrast, naphthol, which is a better fluorophore compared to phenylphenol, loses much of its emissive behavior upon coupling to the azobenzene unit. The extent of trans to cis photoisomerization in solution was very low (approximately 17%) for P2 after 30 min of continuous irradiation using 365 nm light, in contrast to approximately 40% for P1 under identical conditions. This is attributed to the steric repulsion brought about by the bulky phenylphenol units that restrict rotation. A 2-fold enhancement in fluorescence emission was observed for P2 upon irradiation by UV light at 360 nm, which relaxed to the original intensity in about 7 day's time. The higher emission of the cis azobenzenes is generally attributed to an inhibition of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism. The emission of P2 showed a concentration dependence which increased initially and then decreased in intensity with the formation of a new red-shifted peak at higher concentration due to aggregation. Irradiation of the fluorescence quenched highly concentrated (1 x 10(-3) M) sample of P2 showed an enhancement in emission from aggregates at 532 nm.