Chemosensing hybrid materials: Chalcones‐functionalized cage‐like mesoporous SBA‐16 material for highly selective detection of toxic metal ions

Highly selective and low‐cost optical nanosensors of organic–inorganic hybrid materials for heavy metal ions detection have been prepared via the functionalization of mesoporous silica (SBA‐16) with chalcone fluorescent chromophores. The successful attachment of organic chalcone moieties and preservation of original structure of SBA‐16 after the anchoring process were confirmed by extensive characterizations using various techniques like Fourier transform infrared and UV–visible spectroscopies, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, low‐angle X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The colorimetric behaviour, selectivity and sensitivity were also investigated. The optical nanosensors respond selectively to heavy metal ions, such as Mn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺, with observable colour changes in 0.01 M Tris–HCl aqueous buffer solution. Also, the optical sensing ability of the investigated nanosensors to the mentioned metal ions was investigated using steady‐state absorption and emission techniques. Significant increase in the absorption spectra and a static quenching in the emission spectra are observed upon adding various concentrations of the studied metal ions. The spectral changes as well as the observable colour changes suggest that the investigated nanosensors are suitable for simple, economic, online analysis and remote design of these toxic metal ions with fast kinetic responses. Finally, the low detection limits for all the studied metals are in good agreement with those recommended by both the US Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization, except for Hg²⁺ and Cd²⁺, indicating that the investigated nanosensors have hypersensitivity, selectivity and better recognition for all the studied metal ions.     

Complexation of polymethacrylopiperidide with transition metal ions in aqueous solution

The interactions of polymethacrylopiperidide with Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions have been investigated by potentiometric and conductometric titration, ESR and u.v. spectroscopy, viscometry and sedimentation. The average number of ligands coordinating with the central metal ions and the stability constants of polymeric metal complexes were determined. It is assumed that the polymethacrylopiperidide interacts with transition metal ions through the nitrogen atoms. The influence of spatial arrangement of donor atoms on the coordination ability of polyligand is discussed.     

Control of a photoswitching chelator by metal ions: DFT,NBO, and QTAIM analysis

Ability of aroylhydrazones to change conformation upon interaction with light makes them promising candidates for molecular switches. Isomerization can be controlled through complexation with selected metal ions which bind with different affinity. N′‐[1‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)ethyliden]iso‐nicotinoylhydrazide (HAPI) is an example of a dual‐wavelenght photoswitching molecule, whose complexation with metal ions was recently experimentally investigated (Franks et al. J. Inorg. Chem. 2014, 53, 1397). In this contribution, complexes between HAPI and K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cu⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions were investigated using Density Functional Theory, Natural Bond Order analysis, and Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules. The most important parameters that determine complex stability are found to be ion radius and charge transferred from ligands to the ion: smaller ion radii and larger CT values characterize formation of more stable complexes. Our results explain experimentally observed effect of different metal ions on photoisomerization through determination of metal ion affinity (MIA): photoisomerization is inhibited if MIA exceeds 100 kcal/mol; for MIA between 50 and 100 kcal/mol excess of metal ions prevents isomerization, whereas in case of MIA below 50 kcal/mol metal ions have no influence on light–HAPI interaction. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Silole‐Infiltrated Photonic Crystal Films as Effective Fluorescence Sensor for Fe3+ and Hg2+

We develop a highly effective silole‐infiltrated photonic crystal (PC) film fluorescence sensor with high sensitivity, good selectivity and excellent reproducibility for Fe³⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions. Hexaphenylsilole (HPS) infiltrated PCs show amplified fluorescence due to the slow photon effect of PC because the emission wavelength of HPS is at the blue band edge of the selected PC’s stopband. The fluorescence can be quenched significantly by Fe³⁺/Hg²⁺ ions owing to electron transfer between HPS and metal ions. The amplified fluorescence enhances the sensitivity of detection, with a detection limit of 5 nM for Fe³⁺/Hg²⁺ ions. The sensor is negligibly responsive to other metal ions and can easily be reproduced by rinsing with pure water due to the special surface wettability of PC. As a result, a highly effective Fe³⁺/Hg²⁺ ions sensor based on HPS‐infiltrated PC film has been achieved, which will be important for effective and practical detection of heavy metal ions.     

A Highly Copper‐Selective Ratiometric Fluorescent Sensor Based on BODIPY

A new ratiometric fluorescent sensor ( 1 ) for Cu²⁺ based on 4,4‐difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene (BODIPY) with di(2‐picolyl)amine (DPA) as ion recognition subunit has been synthesized and investigated in this work. The binding abilities of 1 towards different metal ions such as alkali and alkaline earth metal ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) and other metal ions ( Ba²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Hg²⁺, Ag⁺) have been examined by UV‐vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. 1 displays high selectivity for Cu²⁺ among all test metal ions and a ～10‐fold fluorescence enhancement in I₅₈₂/I₅₅₈ upon excitation at visible excitation wavelength. The binding mode of 1 and Cu²⁺ is a 1:1 stoichiometry determined via studies of Job plot, the nonlinear fitting of the fluorometric titration and ESI mass.     

Transition Metal Ions or Acid-induced Suppression of Photoinduced Proton Transfer and Electron Transfer Reaction in 5-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-hydroxypyridine: A Molecule of Dual Mode Fluorosensitivity

The photophysical properties of 5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-hydroxypyridine (FP2HP) at different pH and its fluorescence response toward different transition metal ions have been studied by steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopy in combination with quantum chemical calculations. Although keto-enol tautomerization is observed in the excited state, the molecule is weakly fluorescent due to the presence of electron-rich nitrogen atom and relatively electron-deficient fluorine atom, which may lead to photoinduced electron transfer process. In the presence of the transition metal ions, such as Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, etc., the studied molecule exhibits changes in its absorption and emission properties. The present system shows fluorescence enhancement instead of usual quenching in presence of the transition metal ions, such as Fe²⁺ and Cu²⁺. Spectral observation leads to the interpretation that this structurally simple molecule can be effectively utilized as a chelation-enhanced fluorescence-based chemosensor for the detection of transition metal ions. The experimental findings corroborate well with theoretical calculations at Hartree–Fock level using 6-31G** and lanl2dz basis sets.     

A novel fluorescent sensor for Sn4+ detection: Dark resonance energy transfer from silole to rhodamine

A novel dark resonance energy transfer (DRET) off–on cassette SR1 was constructed by coupling a silole donor with a rhodamine acceptor. Due to the intramolecular rotations of the phenyl rings, the silole fluorophore served as a dark donor in solution state and fluorescence leakage from the donor emission could be avoided. Binding with Sn⁴⁺ ion induced the ring‐opening of the rhodamine acceptor, thus increase the overlapping between the emission spectra of the donor and absorption spectra of the acceptor. DRET was turned on and energy was transferred from the silole donor to the rhodamine acceptor. Emission from the rhodamine acceptor was achieved with a large Stokes shift up to 198 nm. The sensor showed good sensitivity and selectivity towards Sn⁴⁺ to other metal ions in methanol aqueous solution through the formation of a 1:1 complex between SR1 and Sn⁴⁺. This research provides a new approach for the development of rhodamine‐based sensors towards metal ions with large Stokes shifts.     

A New Fluorescent Chemosensor for Metal Ions Based upon 1,8‐Naphthalimide and 8‐Hydroxyquinoline

A new fluorescent chemosensor based upon 1,8‐naphthalimide and 8‐hydroxyquinoline was synthesized, and its fluorescent properties in the presence of different metal cations (Hg²⁺, Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ba²⁺) were investigated. It displayed fluorescence quenching with some heavy and transition metal (HTM) ions, and the quenching strongly depended on the nature of HTM ions.     

Effect of Complexation on Photocatalytic Degradation of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen Compounds

Abstract

The effect of metal ions on TiO₂ mediated photocatalytic oxidation for the determination of dissolved organic nitrogen compounds is investigated. Ethylenediaminetetraaceticacid was chosen as a model molecule for DON compounds. At pH 2, 5, 7, and 10 aqueous EDTA solutions were irradiated at 254 nm in the presence of Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺ or Co²⁺ ions. The sum of produced nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium ion concentrations gave the total oxidation recovery. At low pH, the photocatalytic oxidation recoveries of Fe‐EDTA, Ni‐EDTA, and Co‐EDTA were significantly lower than the photocatalytic degradation of EDTA. The presence of free Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Co²⁺ ions decreased the photocatalytic oxidation recovery. The [NH₄ ⁺]/[NO₃ ^?] ratio was higher for Cu‐EDTA.     

1-(d-Glucopyranosyl-2′-deoxy-2′-iminomethyl)-2-hydroxynaphthalene as chemo-sensor for Fe in aqueous HEPES buffer based on colour changes observable with the naked eye

A new glucose-based C2-derivatized colorimetric chemo-sensor (L₁) has been synthesized by a one-step condensation of glucosamine and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde for the recognition of transition metal ions. Among the eleven metal ions studied, viz., Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺, L₁ results in visual colour change only in the presence of Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺and Cu²⁺ in methanol. However, in an aqueous HEPES buffer (pH 7.2) it is only the Fe³⁺ that gives a distinct visual colour change even in the presence of other metal ions, up to a concentration of 280 ppb. The changes have been explained based on the complex formed, and the composition has been determined to be 2:1 between L₁ and Fe³⁺ based on Job’s plot as well as ESI MS. The structure of the proposed complex has been derived based on HF/6-31G calculations.     

Binding of some first-row transition metal ions by a poly(iminoethylene)dithiocarbamate copolymer

The binding of the transition metal ions VO²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, CO²⁺, Co³⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ by a poly(iminoethylene) dithiocarbamate copolymer has been investigated by uptake studies and physical measurements (electronic, IR, and ESR spectra and magnetic susceptibility). Metal ions may be bound by both the dithiocarbamato and amino groups of the co-polymer. Binding to nitrogen (in addition to binding to sulphur) increases in the order FE(II)<Ni(II)<Cu(II) and accounted for increasing metal ion uptake by the copolymer in the same order. Factors which determine the relative uptake of the metal ions by the copolymer are discussed.     

Decoration of Terpyridine with Electron‐Rich Unit THDTAP: an Efficient Way to Explore Fluorescence Sensors for Recognizing Metal Ions

The electron‐donating unit 2,3,4,6‐tetrahydro‐1,6‐dithia‐3a‐azaphenalene (THDTAP) was introduced onto terpyridine (TPy) to give a donor‐acceptor (D‐A) type TPy‐ligand (compound 2 ). Upon selective oxidation of two sulfur atoms on the THDTAP moiety of 2 , the ligands 3 — 6 were created. The electronic structures of 2 — 6 were evaluated by theoretical, electrochemical, and spectroscopic investigations. The oxidation on the sulfur atoms brings significant influence on the electron‐donating ability of THDTAP moiety, subsequently, leads to fine modulations on intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) of 2 — 6 and the electronically excited states of the complexes of 2 — 6 with metal ions. Based on the optical response of 2 — 6 toward metal ions, the step‐by‐step recognition of Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Ag⁺ ions is set up by employing 2 and 3 as combined fluorescence sensors.     

Color Tuning in Garnet Oxides: The Role of Tetrahedral Coordination Geometry for 3 d Metal Ions and Ligand–Metal Charge Transfer (Band‐Gap Manipulation)

We explored garnet‐structured oxide materials containing 3d transition‐metal ions (e.g., Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Fe³⁺) for the development of new inorganic colored materials. For this purpose, we synthesized new garnets, Ca₃Sb₂Ga₂ZnO₁₂ ( I ) and Ca₃Sb₂Fe₂ZnO₁₂ ( II ), that were isostructural with Ca₃Te₂Zn₃O₁₂. Substitution of Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺ at the tetrahedral Zn²⁺ sites in I and II gave rise to brilliantly colored materials (different shades of blue, green, turquoise, and red). The materials were characterized by optical absorption spectroscopy and CIE chromaticity diagrams. The Fe³⁺‐containing oxides showed band‐gap narrowing (owing to strong sp–d exchange interactions between Zn²⁺ and the transition‐metal ion), and this tuned the color of these materials uniquely. We also characterized the color and optical absorption properties of Ca₃Te₂Zn_3−x Co_x O₁₂ (0<x ≤2.0) and Cd₃Te₂Zn_3−x Co_x O₁₂ (0<x ≤1.0), which display brilliant blue and green‐blue colors, respectively. The present work brings out the role of the distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry of transition‐metal ions and ligand–metal charge transfer (which is manifested as narrowing of the band gap) in producing brilliantly colored garnet‐based materials.     

Solvent donor and acceptor properties of pyridine

Polarographic and cyclovoltammetric measurements on the perchlorates of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, Tl⁺, Ba²⁺ and Ni²⁺ as well as on the trifluoromethane sulfonates of Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cu⁺, Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ were carried out. The data allowed the evaluation of the different donor behavior of pyridine towards hard, border line and soft cations. The conclusions drawn from electrochemical investigations were supported by Gibbs energies of transfer for cations, which were derived from both electrochemical measurements based on the bis(biphenyl)chromium assumption and from solubility studies based on the tetraphenylarsonium tetraphenylborate assumption. The acceptor properties of pyridine were obtained from the solvatochromic dyes bis(cyano)bis(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) and bis(cyano)bis(3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) and the results were compared with the acceptor number and the E _T -value.     

Solution‐Processed Bulk‐Heterojunction Photovoltaic Cells Based on Dendritic and Star‐Shaped D‐π‐A Organic Dyes

A series of D ‐π‐A organic dendritic and star‐shaped molecules based on three various chromophores (i.e., the truxene nodes, triphenylamine moieties as the donor, and benzothiadiazole chromophore as the acceptor) and their corresponding model compounds are facilely developed. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties are investigated in detail by UV/Vis absorption and photoluminescent spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. By changing the various conjugated spacers (i.e., single bond, double bond, and triple bond) among the three chromophores of dendritic series, their photophysical properties (that is, the one‐photon absorption range and two‐photon absorption cross‐section values) are effectively modulated. All D ‐π‐A conjugated oligomers show a broad and strong absorption band from 250 to 700 nm in thin films. Solution‐processed bulk‐heterojunction photovoltaic devices using our oligomer as donor and PCBM as acceptor are fabricated and measured. The power conversion efficiency of the devices based on our oligomers continuously increases from DBTTr to TRTD2A as a result of an increasing relative absorption intensity in longer wavelength region by changing the donor‐acceptor ratio and conjugated spacers between the donor and acceptor. The power conversion efficiency of the devices based on TRTD2A was 0.54 % under the illumination of AM 1.5 and 100 mW cm^?2, which is the highest value recorded based on D ‐π‐A conjugated oligomers containing triphenylamine moieties and benzothiadiazole chromophores with truxene to date.     

Poly(phenylene vinylene)‐based copolymers containing 3,7‐phenothiazylene and 2,6‐pyridylene chromophores: Fluorescence sensors for acids,metal ions,and oxidation

A novel copolymer, poly(N‐hexyl‐3,7‐phenothiazylene‐1,2‐ethenylene‐2,6‐pyridylene‐1,2‐ethenylene) ( P3 ), containing N‐hexyl‐3,7‐phenothiazylene and 2,6‐pyridylene chromophores was synthesized to investigate the effect of protonation, metal complexation, and chemical oxidation on its absorption and photoluminescence (PL). Poly(N‐hexyl‐3,8‐iminodibenzyl‐1,2‐ethenylene‐1,3‐phenylene‐1,2‐ethenylene) and poly(N‐hexyl‐3,7‐phenothiazylene‐1,2‐ethenylene‐1,3‐phenylene‐1,2‐ethenylene) ( P2 ), consisting of 1,3‐divinylbenzene alternated with N‐hexyl‐3,8‐iminodibenzyl and N‐hexyl‐3,7‐phenothiazylene, respectively, were also prepared for comparison. Electrochemical investigations revealed that P3 exhibited lower band gaps (2.34 eV) due to alternating donor and acceptor conjugated units (push–pull structure). The absorption and PL spectral variations of P3 were easily manipulated by protonation, metal chelation, and chemical oxidation. P3 displayed significant bathochromic shifts when protonated with trifluoroacetic acid in chloroform. The complexation of P3 with Fe³⁺ led to a significant absorption change and fluorescence quenching, and this implied the coordination of ferric ions with the 2,6‐pyridylene groups in the backbone. Moreover, both phenothiazylene‐containing P2 and P3 showed conspicuous PL quenching with a slight redshift when oxidized with NOBF₄. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1272–1284, 2004     

Ratiometric and turn-on monitoring for heavy and transition metal ions in aqueous solution with a fluorescent peptide sensor

A novel fluorescent peptide sensor containing tryptophan (donor) and dansyl fluorophore (acceptor) was synthesized for monitoring heavy and transition metal (HTM) ions on the basis of metal ion binding motif (Cys-X-X-X-Cys). The peptide probe successfully exhibited a turn on and ratiometric response for several heavy metal ions such as Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Ag⁺ in aqueous solution. The enhancements of emission intensity were achieved in the presence of the HTM ions by fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) and chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effects. The detection limits of the sensor for Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Ag⁺ were lower than the EPA's drinking water maximum contaminant levels (MCL). We described the fluorescent enhancement, binding affinity, and detection limit of the peptide probe for HTM ions.     

Metal binding selectivity of oxa-aza macrocyclic ligand: a DFT study of first- and second-row transition metal for four coordination systems

A detailed theoretical study of the 1,7,1l,17-tetraoxa-2,6,12,16-tetraaza-cycloeicosane ligand ([20]AneN₄O₄) coordinated to Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Ru²⁺, Rh²⁺, and Pd²⁺ transition metal ions was carried out with the B3LYP method. Two different cases were performed: when nitrogen is the donor atom (1a _q ) and also with the oxygen as the donor atom (1b _q ). For all the cases performed in this study 1a _q structures were always more stable than the 1b _q ones. Considering each row is possible to see that the energy increases with the increase of the atomic number. The M²⁺ cation binding energies for the 1a _q complexes increase with the following order: Fe²⁺ < Ru²⁺ < Co²⁺ < Ni²⁺ < Rh²⁺ < Pd²⁺.

     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Bis(1‐{(E)‐2‐pyridinylmethylidene}‐semicarbazone)iron(II) and ‐copper(II) Diperchlorate Monohydrates

The pyridine‐2‐carbaldehyde semicarbazone ligand (HL) reacts with iron(II) and copper(II) perchlorates in boiling ethanol to yield red‐violet [Fe^II(HL)₂](ClO₄)₂·H₂O ( 1 ) and light‐green crystals [Cu^II(HL)₂](ClO₄)₂·H₂O ( 2 ). The crystals are triclinic with the metal ions in an octahedral environment, coordinated to two nitrogen and one oxygen‐donor atom from HL. Electronic, magnetic and electrochemical properties are presented as well.     

Combining field‐amplified sample stacking with moving reaction boundary electrophoresis on a paper chip for the preconcentration and separation of metal ions

A common drawback of paper‐based separation devices is their poor detection limit. In this study, we combined field‐amplified sample stacking with moving reaction boundary electrophoresis on a paper chip with six array channels for the parallel separation and concentration of multiple samples. With a new hyphenated technique, the brown I₂ from the Fe³⁺/I⁻ oxidation–reduction reaction emerged near the boundary between the dilute ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and potassium iodide and highly concentrated KCl solutions. For the separation and concentration of three components, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, and Fe³⁺, the Fe³⁺ detection limit was improved at least 266‐fold by comparing the hyphenated technique with moving reaction boundary electrophoresis. The detection limit of Fe³⁺ was found to be as low as 0.34 ng (20 μM) on the paper chip. We also demonstrated the analysis of a real sample of four metal ions, with detection limits as follows: 0.16 μg Cr³⁺, 1.5 μg Ni²⁺, 0.64 μg Cu²⁺, and 1.5 μg Co²⁺. The synergy of field‐amplified sample stacking and moving reaction boundary electrophoresis in the micron paper‐based array channels dramatically improved the detection limit and throughput of paper‐based electrophoresis.