Selective fluorescence turn-on of a prefluorescent azomethine with Zn

A prefluorescent conjugated azomethine (4) was prepared by condensing 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-carbaldehyde with 2-amine thiophene. The fluorescence of the azomethine was quenched in organic solvents including dichloromethane, methanol, DMSO, and DMF. However, the fluorescence of 4 was selectively revived in the presence of zinc and an absolute quantum yield Φ_fl = 0.15 was measured.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Fluorescent Properties of Lanthanide Complexes Based on 8‐Hydroxyquinoline‐7‐carboxylic Acid

The lanthanide complex [Eu₃(8‐HQCA)₃(COOH)(OH)₂(H₂O)₃]_n · nH₂O (8‐HQCA = 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐7‐carboxylic acid) was synthesized and characterized. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction shows that the trinuclear structures are linked by ligands to form 2D layers. The results of DFT calculation shows that energy can be transferred effectively from the ligand to Eu^III ions. A series of heteronuclear complexes {[(Eu_1–xY_x)₃(8‐HQCA)₃(COOH) (OH)₂(H₂O)₃]_n · nH₂O (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8)} were synthesized and their luminescent properties were studied. The results showed that the doping of Y^III ions could change the fluorescent intensity of the Eu^III complex, but could not change their positions.     

A DNA-Stabilized Ag1812+ Cluster with Excitation-Intensity-Dependent Dual Emission

DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (DNA-AgNCs) are easily tunable emitters with intriguing photophysical properties. Here, a DNA-AgNC with dual emission in the red and near-infrared (NIR) regions is presented. Mass spectrometry data showed that two DNA strands stabilize 18 silver atoms with a nanocluster charge of 12+. Besides determining the composition and charge of DNA₂[Ag₁₈]¹²⁺, steady-state and time-resolved methods were applied to characterize the picosecond red fluorescence and the relatively intense microsecond-lived NIR luminescence. During this process, the luminescence-to-fluorescence ratio was found to be excitation-intensity-dependent. This peculiar feature is very rare for molecular emitters and allows the use of DNA₂[Ag₁₈]¹²⁺ as a nanoscale excitation intensity probe. For this purpose, calibration curves were constructed using three different approaches based either on steady-state or time-resolved emission measurements. The results showed that processes like thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) or photon upconversion through triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) could be excluded for DNA₂[Ag₁₈]¹²⁺. We, therefore, speculate that the ratiometric excitation intensity response could be the result of optically activated delayed fluorescence.     

A tailor designed fluorescent ‘turn-on’ sensor of formaldehyde based on the BODIPY motif

Based on theoretical calculations on the effects of molecular orbital energy levels of amines on the fluorescence properties of the fluorophore, aniline-substituted BODIPY motif (AnB) with quenched fluorescence was developed as a ‘turn-on’ switch for the qualitative and quantitative detection of formaldehyde with the detection limit (LOD) of ca. 165 nM.     

A highly selective ‘off-on’ fluorescence chemosensor for Cr(III)

An ‘off-on’ fluorescence chemosensor for the selective signalling of Cr(III) has been designed exploiting the guest-induced inhibition of the photoinduced electron transfer signalling mechanism. The system shows an approximately 17-fold Cr(III)-selective chelation-enhanced fluorescence response in tetrahydrofuran and the system is highly selective against the background of environmentally and biologically relevant metal ions.     

Fluorescence ‘turn-on’ detection of Cu ions with aggregation-induced emission-active tetraphenylethene based on click chemistry

A fluorometric sensor for detection of Cu²⁺ ions in aqueous solution with aggregation-induced emission-active tetraphenylethene based on click chemistry is reported. Upon addition of Cu²⁺, a reaction of azide-modified tetraphenylethene and diethylene glycol dipropiolate in the presence of sodium ascorbate proceeded to yield covalently cross-linked networks, resulting in a dramatic enhancement of fluorescence. This assay showed high selectivity for Cu²⁺ ions even in the presence of other metal ions in a mixture.     

Zn selective luminescent ‘off-on’ probes derived from diaryl oxadiazole and aza-15-crown-5

New photo-induced electron transfer (PET) probes OMOX and OBOX, carrying an additional binding site in the form of ‘oxadiazole nitrogen’ have been designed to evaluate binding interactions with biologically significant Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Zn²⁺ including environmentally toxic Ba²⁺ and Cd²⁺ using optical spectral techniques. While Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ did not appreciably perturb either the absorption or emission spectra, Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cd²⁺ induced slight red shifts (2-8 nm) in the UV-visible spectra as well as pronounced chelation induced enhanced fluorescence (CHEF). Both OMOX and OBOX exhibited the highest CHEF in contact with the zinc ion, whereas Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Cd²⁺ induced relatively less emission enhancements. OBOX, which is a poorer emitter (Φ_f=0.0062) than OMOX (Φ_f=0.015), showed highly promising 160-fold emission enhancement in the presence of Zn²⁺. Potential, therefore is available in OBOX to function as a selective luminescent ‘off-on’ sensor for Zn²⁺ in the presence of coordinatively competing Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Cd²⁺ ions.     

A Water Stable CdII‐based Metal‐Organic Framework as a Multifunctional Sensor for Selective Detection of Cu2+ and Cr2O72– Ions

A water stable tetrazolate‐containing metal‐organic framework, [Cd₂(L)(OH)(H₂O)₂]_n ( 1 ) [H₃L = 5‐(4‐(tetrazol‐5‐yl)phenyl)isophthalic acid], was synthesized under solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized. Compound 1 displays a three dimensional porous network with one dimensional tubular channels based on trinuclear cluster [Cd₃(μ₃‐OH)N₄C] units. Notably, 1 exhibits highly sensitive response to Cu²⁺ and Cr₂O₇^2– through luminescence quenching effects with the detection limit of 0.666 ppm for Cu²⁺ and 0.846 ppm for Cr₂O₇^2–, respectively. The possible mechanism of the luminescence quenching was discussed in detail.     

Acetylcholine detection at micromolar concentrations with the use of an artificial receptor-based fluorescence switch

An inclusion complex between water-soluble p-sulfocalix[n]arene (Cn, n=4, 6, 8) and the chromophore trans-4-[4-(dimethylamino)styryl]-1-methylpyridinium-p-toluenesulfonate (D) formed the basis for a highly sensitive sensor for the selective detection of neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). Formation of the [Cn.D] complex (Ka=approximately 10(5) M(-1)) was accompanied by a drastic increase (up to 20-60-fold) in the chromophore relative quantum yield and by a large hypsochromic shift of the emission band maximum. The observed optical effects are fully reversible: ACh displaces the chromophore molecules from the calixarene cavity as shown by the reappearance of the free chromophore emission band. Formation and dissociation of the complex were studied by fluorescence, 1H NMR, and UV-vis absorption spectroscopies. The [Cn.D] complex is capable of sensing ACh selectively in solution at sub-micromolar concentrations. Immobilization of monocarboxyl p-sulfocalix[4]arene (C4m) on an oxide-containing silicon surface is in keeping with its properties, such as chromophore binding and the ability of the immobilized inclusion complex to detect ACh. The unique [Cn.D] complex optical switching paves the way for application in ACh imaging and optoelectronic sensing.     

Converging ligand‐binding free energies obtained with free‐energy perturbations at the quantum mechanical level

In this article, the convergence of quantum mechanical (QM) free‐energy simulations based on molecular dynamics simulations at the molecular mechanics (MM) level has been investigated. We have estimated relative free energies for the binding of nine cyclic carboxylate ligands to the octa‐acid deep‐cavity host, including the host, the ligand, and all water molecules within 4.5 Å of the ligand in the QM calculations (158–224 atoms). We use single‐step exponential averaging (ssEA) and the non‐Boltzmann Bennett acceptance ratio (NBB) methods to estimate QM/MM free energy with the semi‐empirical PM6‐DH2X method, both based on interaction energies. We show that ssEA with cumulant expansion gives a better convergence and uses half as many QM calculations as NBB, although the two methods give consistent results. With 720,000 QM calculations per transformation, QM/MM free‐energy estimates with a precision of 1 kJ/mol can be obtained for all eight relative energies with ssEA, showing that this approach can be used to calculate converged QM/MM binding free energies for realistic systems and large QM partitions. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Computational Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Photoreaction of iodouracil in DNA duplex; C-I bond is cleaved via two different pathways ‘homolysis and heterolysis’

We recently found that a selective photoreaction of 5-iodouracil (^IU) occurs in 5′-(G/C)AA^IU^IU-3′ and 5′-(G/C)A^IU^IU-3′ sequences in ^IU-substituted duplex DNA. In this study, the photoreactivity of the 5′-G(A)_n^IUT-3′ sequence was examined using various ^IU-containing oligonucleotides. HPLC analysis revealed that their photoreactivity largely depends on the number of As between G and ^IU. The most efficient reactivity was observed when the number of As was two and this decreased with increasing numbers from three to five, as observed for the 5′-G(A)_n^IUT-3′ sequence. These results indicate that the G located 5′ from ^IU acts as an electron donor for ^IU, as in the photoreaction of ^BrU. In sharp contrast to the ^BrU photoreaction, ^IU was photoreactive when the number of As was zero or more than five. These results indicate that both homolytic and heterolytic pathways operate in the formation of the uracil-5-yl radical in the photoreaction of ^IU in duplex DNA. In addition, the ratio of these pathways is highly dependent on DNA sequence.     

Conformational changes of lysozymes with different numbers of disulfide bridges in sodium dodecyl sulfate solutions

Four disulfide bridges of hen egg-white lysozyme were selectively reduced to obtain its derivatives with three, two, and zero disulfide bridges (designated as 3SS, 2SS, and 0SS lysozymes, respectively). The 3SS lysozyme maintained the native conformation at pH 7.0 and 3.0. Even upon the reduction of two disulfide bridges, the protein conformation still remained unchanged at pH 7.0. Upon the reduction of all four disulfide bridges, the helicity, [θ]₂₇₀, and tryptophan fluorescence changed at pH 3.0 as well as at pH 7.0. The helicity of each derivative increased in a solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The SDS-induced helicity of the 0SS lysozyme was lower at pH 7.0 and higher at pH 3.0 than that of the intact lysozyme with four disulfide bridges. The helix formation appears to occur in originally nonhelical parts in each derivative at pH 7.0. In the cases of the 2SS and 0SS lysozymes at pH 3.0, however, some of the helices appear to be reformed also at moieties where the original helices are disrupted upon the cleavage of disulfide bridges. Received: 17 September 2000/Accepted: 24 March 2000     

Solvothermal Syntheses,Crystal Structures,and Luminescent Properties of Two Transition Metal Complexes with 5‐Nitro‐8‐hydroxyquinoline and N‐Containing Auxiliary Ligands

Two complexes, Zn₄(C₉H₅N₂O₃)₈(4, 4′‐bipy)₂ ( 1 ) and [Cd(C₉H₅N₂O₃)₂(2, 2′‐bipy)] · 2H₂O ( 2 ) were synthesized by solvothermal reactions of transition metal nitrates with 5‐nitro‐quinoline‐8‐yl acetate (NQA) under intervention of auxiliary ligands, and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, TGA, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In complex 1 , every 4, 4′‐bipy adopts a monodentate bridging mode and links two dinuclear asymmetric units, resulting a centrosymmetric neutral tetranuclear zinc complex. Complex 2 is a mononuclear complex, which is alternately arranged to form a 2D network through four kinds of hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, complexes 1 and 2 show excellent luminescent properties in solid state at room temperature.     

Selective free-radical dechlorination of 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether initiated thermally or by uv light: A practical and ‘green’ method for isoflurane synthesis

Treatment of 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether (3) with 2-propanol followed by either irradiation with UV light or heating with radical initiators gives the inhalational anesthetic isoflurane. Unlike most other common dechlorination methods, monoreduction is the exclusive process and the by-products acetone and HCl are relatively benign. Some comments about the mechanism of the reduction will be presented, along with solutions to problems encountered during scale-up.     

Synthesis of 2,3,5,6-tetrasubstituted pyridines via selective three-component reactions of aldehyde and two different enaminones

The three-component synthesis of structurally unsymmetrical pyridines with polysubstituted structure has been realized via the catalytic system consisting of CuI and KHSO₄. The employment of two different enaminones is the main factor allowing the successful [3+2+1] construction of the pyridine ring based on the formation of two CC and one CN bonds.     

第二近红外窗口荧光Ag2Te量子点的合成

以巯基辛烷为表面配体, 通过调控Ag前体和Te前体的比例, 制备了第二近红外窗口荧光Ag₂Te量子点. 采用透射电子显微镜(TEM)、 X射线衍射光谱(XRD)、 X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、 紫外-可见-近红外吸收光谱和荧光光谱等对产物进行了表征. 结果表明, 制得了粒径均一、 分散性好的油溶性Ag₂Te量子点, 其最大荧光发射波长位于1320 nm, 荧光量子产率高达4.2%.     

Design and synthesis of a new coumarin-based ‘turn-on’ fluorescent probe selective for Cu

The novel coumarin-based ‘turn-on’ fluorescent probe (E)-3-(2,5-dimethoxybenzylideneamino)-7-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one (MGM) was designed, synthesized, and characterized. This compound shows high selectivity for Cu⁺², combined with a large fluorescence enhancement upon binding to Cu²⁺. Benesi-Hildebrand and Job plots demonstrate that the stoichiometry of the Cu²⁺ complex formed is 2:1. Preliminary studies employing epifluorescence microscopy demonstrated that Cu⁺² could be imaged in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells treated with MGM.     

A new intramolecular charge transfer receptor as a selective ratiometric ‘off-on’ sensor for Zn

A new intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) probe 3 is found to display a highly selective photophysical response in the presence of Zn²⁺, among various biologically significant metal ions examined. The absorption band of 3 is red shifted by 84 nm and the fluorescence intensity increases 13-fold in the presence of Zn²⁺. The binding interaction follows the order Zn²⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Ba²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > K⁺ ≅ Na⁺ ≅ Li⁺ and the stability constant for 3 + Zn²⁺ is over an order of magnitude higher compared to biologically competing Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺.     

Kinetic and Thermodynamic Investigations of Zn(II) Adsorption on Microcrystalline Anthracene Modified with 8‐Hydroxyquinoline and Its Application to the Preconcentration and Determination of Trace Zinc

A new method that utilizes microcrystalline anthracene modified with 8‐hydroxyquinoline as an adsorbent has been developed for the preconcentration of trace Zinc(II). The possible reaction mechanism is discussed in detail. The influences of different parameters, such as acidity, other metal ions, the amounts of 8‐hydroxyquinoline and anthracene, etc. on the enrichment yield of Zn(II) have been studied to optimize the experimental conditions. The experimental data were fitted well with the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model and Langmuir model at all studied temperatures and the maximum adsorption capacity was 32.58 mg·g^?1 (300 K). The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG^θ, ΔH^θ and ΔS^θ) showed the feasibility, exothermic and spontaneous nature of the adsorption at 280～320 K. Experiments indicate that Zn(II) can be completely separated from Cu(II), Co(II), Cd(II), Mn(II), Ni(II) in the eluent. The recovery of this method is in the range of 96.0%～105.0% with preconcentration factor of 100 and the limit of detection after preconcentration is 0.068 μg·L^?1. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of trace Zn(II) in effluents and synthetic water sample having a composition similar to certified water sample SLRS‐4 (NRC, Canada). Analytical results obtained by this recommended method were very satisfactory.