A new rhodamine-based fluorescent chemosensor for mercury in aqueous media

A new fluorescent ‘‘on–off' chemosensor for Hg2+initiated by a derivative of rhodamine B was designed and synthesized. Compound 1 exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for Hg2+over other commonly coexistent metal ions in aqueous media. Upon the addition of Hg2+, the spirocyclic ring of probe is opened and a significant enhancement of visible color and fluorescence in the range of 500–600 nm is observed. The colorimetric and fluorescent response to Hg2+can be conveniently detected by the naked eye, which provides a facile method for visual detection of Hg2+. From the molecular structure and spectral results of 1, an irreversible, hydrolysis, desulfurization reaction mechanism is proposed.     

A new rhodamine-based dual chemosensor for Al and Cu

A new rhodamine B derivative bearing a hydrazone group has been designed and prepared. The synthesized colorimetric and fluorescent molecular chemosensor can be used as a dual probe, selectively detecting Al³⁺ and Cu²⁺ in acetonitrile solution by monitoring changes in the absorption and fluorescence spectral patterns. The results show that Al³⁺ ions can induce a greater fluorescence enhancement, while the addition of Cu²⁺ ions induces a strong UV–vis absorption enhancement with weak fluorescence. The limits of detection of Cu²⁺ and Al³⁺ were estimated to be 2.9 × 10⁻⁷ M and 8.3 × 10⁻⁹ M, respectively.     

A novel tryptamine-appended rhodamine-based chemosensor for selective detection of Hg2+ present in aqueous medium and its biological applications

A novel rhodamine–tryptamine conjugate–based fluorescent and chromogenic chemosensor (RTS) for detection of Hg²⁺ present in water was reported. After gradual addition of Hg²⁺ in aqueous methanol solution of RTS, a strong orange fluorescence and deep-pink coloration were observed. The probe showed high selectivity towards Hg²⁺ compared to other competitive metal ions. The 1:1 binding stoichiometry between RTS and Hg²⁺ was established by Job’s plot analysis and mass spectroscopy. Initial studies showed that the synthesized probe RTS possessed fair non-toxicity and effectively passed through cell walls of model cell systems, viz., human neuroblastoma (SHSY5Y) cells and cervical cells (HeLa) to detect intercellular Hg²⁺ ions, signifying its utility in biological system. The limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 2.1 nM or 0.42 ppb by fluorescence titration. Additionally, the potential relevance of synthesized chemosensor for detecting Hg²⁺ ions in environmental water samples has been demonstrated.

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A new rhodamine-based chemosensor exhibiting selective Fe(III)-amplified fluorescence

[structure: see text] A new fluorescent probe 3 was synthesized, and it exhibited high selectivity for Fe(III) over other commonly coexistent metal ions in both ethanol and water. Upon the addition of Fe(III), the spirocyclic ring of 3 was opened and a significant enhancement of visible color and fluorescence in the range of 500-600 nm was observed.     

A new rhodamine-based fluorescent chemosensor for transition metal cations synthesized by one-step facile condensation

A new rhodamine-based fluorescent chemosensor (1) for transition metal cations was synthesized by one-step facile condensation of rhodamine B and 2-aminopyridine. Without metal cations, 1 is colorless and nonfluorescent, whereas addition of metal cations (Fe³⁺, Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Fe²⁺) leads to an obvious color change to pink and an appearance of orange fluorescence.     

A simple chemosensor for Hg2+ and Cu2+ that works as a molecular keypad lock

A new chemosensor which can detect Hg(2+) in water and Hg(2+)/Cu(2+) in acetonitrile and its application as a molecular keypad lock using Cu(2+) and F(-) as ionic inputs are demonstrated.     

A benzthiazole-based tripodal chemosensor for Ba recognition under biological conditions

We synthesized a benzthiazole-based chemosensor with mixed S,N donor sites. The binding units are incorporated in a highly flexible tripodal framework which facilitates the complexation of the binding of larger-sized metals. The chemosensor resulted in the sensitive and selective recognition of Ba²⁺ through the enhancement of the fluorescence intensity when studied in a THF/H₂O (8:2, v/v) solvent mixture. The sensor offers an interesting opportunity to monitor Ba²⁺ in biological samples including the cytoplasm of microbes such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

A ‘naked-eye’ chemosensor system for phytate

We report the synthesis of two new anion receptors of a covalently linked 1,3,5-triarylbenzoamido-crown ether. Our results show that combined with a picrate salt they act by means of an intermolecular charge transfer process (EDA complex), as naked-eye sensors for basic anions, especially for sodium phytate in DMSO/H₂O (1:1).     

Benzimidazole-based receptor for Zn2+ recognition in a biological system: a chemosensor operated by retarding the excited state proton transfer

A new benzimidazole-based receptor was developed with potential functional groups for excited state proton transfer (ESPT) through keto–enol tautomerism. The enol form of the receptor selectively recognizes Zn²⁺, allowing it to be used as a ratiometric fluorescence sensor in DMSO/CH₃CN (1:9, v/v). The binding event triggers a blue-shifted band through the modulation of charge transfer transitions. The sensor is applicable for recognizing Zn²⁺ in the cytoplasm of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

Benzo[a]phenoxazinium-based red-emitting chemosensor for zinc ions in biological media

A benzo[a]phenoxazinium-based chemosensor bearing an N,N-di(2-picolyl)ethylenediamine unit was successfully synthesized. It is a long-wave emission and fully water-soluble fluorescent sensor with good membrane permeability for the selective detection of Zn(2+).     

A fluorescent anion sensor that works in neutral aqueous solution for bioanalytical application

Anion recognition and anion sensing are of interest because anions play many important roles in living organisms. Most currently known anion sensors work only in organic solution, but sensors for biological applications are required to function in neutral aqueous solution. We have designed and synthesized a novel fluorescent sensor for anions. The sensor molecule 1-Cd(II) contains 7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin as a fluorescent reporter and Cd(II)-cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) as an anion host. In neutral aqueous solution, Cd(II) of 1-Cd(II) is coordinated by the four nitrogen atoms of cyclen and the aromatic amino group of coumarin. When various anions are added to 100 mM HEPES buffer solution (pH 7.4) containing 1-Cd(II), the aromatic amino group of coumarin is displaced from Cd(II), causing a change of the excitation spectrum. While pyrophosphate and citrate were detected with high sensitivity, fluoride and perchlorate produced no response. Among organic anions, ATP and ADP gave strong signals, while cAMP showed little signal. By utilizing the different affinities of the sensor for AMP and cAMP, the activity of phosphodiesterase, which cleaves cyclic nucleotide, was monitored in real-time. The sensor should have many biochemical and analytical applications and the sensing principle should be widely applicable to the sensing of other molecules.     

Development of a zinc ion-selective luminescent lanthanide chemosensor for biological applications

Detection of chelatable zinc (Zn(2+)) in biological studies has attracted much attention recently, because chelatable Zn(2+) plays important roles in many biological systems. Lanthanide complexes (Eu(3+), Tb(3+), etc.) have excellent spectroscopic properties for biological applications, such as long luminescence lifetimes of the order of milliseconds, a large Stoke's shift of >200 nm, and high water solubility. Herein, we present the design and synthesis of a novel lanthanide sensor molecule, [Eu-7], for detecting Zn(2+). This europium (Eu(3+)) complex employs a quinolyl ligand as both a chromophore and an acceptor for Zn(2+). Upon addition of Zn(2+) to a solution of [Eu-7], the luminescence of Eu(3+) is strongly enhanced, with high selectivity for Zn(2+) over other biologically relevant metal cations. One of the important advantages of [Eu-7] is that this complex can be excited with longer excitation wavelengths (around 340 nm) as compared with previously reported Zn(2+)-sensitive luminescent lamthanide sensors, whose excitation wavelength is at too high an energy level for biological applications. The usefulness of [Eu-7] for monitoring Zn(2+) changes in living HeLa cells was confirmed. This novel Zn(2+)-selective luminescent lanthanide chemosensor [Eu-7]should be an excellent lead compound for the development of a range of novel luminescent lanthanide chemosensors for biological applications.     

A rhodamine-based Hg2+-selective fluorescent probe in aqueous solution

A new rhodamine-based Hg²⁺-selective fluorescent probe (I) was designed and synthesized. Compound I displays excellent selective and sensitive response to Hg²⁺ over other transition metal ions in neutral aqueous solutions. I itself is a colorless, nonfluorescent compound. Upon addition of Hg²⁺ to its solution, the thiosemicarbazide moiety of I undergoes an irreversible desulfurization reaction to form the corresponding 1,3,4-oxadiazole (II), a colorful and fluorescent product, causing instantaneous development of visible color and strong fluorescence emission. Based on this mechanism, a fluorogenic probe for Hg²⁺ was developed. The fluorescence increases linearly with the Hg²⁺ concentration up to 0.8 μmol L⁻¹ with the detection limit of 9.4 nmol L⁻ (3σ).     

A supramolecular microfluidic optical chemosensor

A supramolecular microfluidic optical chemosensor (muFOC) has been fabricated. A serpentine channel has been patterned with a sol-gel film that incorporates a cyclodextrin supramolecule modified with a Tb(3+) macrocycle. Bright emission from the Tb(3+) ion is observed upon exposure of the (mu)FOC to biphenyl in aqueous solution. The signal transduction mechanism was elucidated by undertaking steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic measurements directly on the optical chemosensor patterned within the microfluidic network. The presence of biphenyl in the cyclodextrin receptor site triggers Tb(3+) emission by an absorption-energy transfer-emission process. These results demonstrate that the intricate signal transduction mechanisms of supramolecular optical chemosensors are successfully preserved in microfluidic environments.     

Rationally designed chromogenic chemosensor that detects cysteine in aqueous solution with remarkable selectivity

A sensing ensemble for cysteine was assembled conveniently by simply mixing N,N,N′,N′-tetra-(2-pyridylmethyl)-p-xylylenediamine (TPXD), cadmium perchlorate, and pyrocatechol violet in an 1:2:1 molar ratio in water of neutral pH. In the ensemble, [Cd₂(TPXD)]⁴⁺ formed from TPXD and cadmium perchlorate serves as the receptor, and pyrocatechol violet functions as the indicator in sensing the analyte. The detection can be made either spectroscopically from the decrease of the UV-visible absorbance at 665 nm or visually from the color change to yellow upon addition of an aqueous solution of the analyte to the solution of the ensemble. The association constant (K_ass) for the binding of the indicator to the receptor was determined with an isothermal titration calorimeter to be (2.77±0.98)×10⁵ M⁻¹ and that for the binding of cysteine to the receptor was obtained to have (1.62±0.97)×10⁷ M⁻¹ by the non-linear regression analysis of the titration curve obtained by titration of the solution of the ensemble with cysteine solution. The chemosensor showed excellent selectivity for cysteine over other amino acids including homocysteine.     

A green synthesis of a simple chemosensor that could instantly detect cyanide with high selectivity in aqueous solution

A novel and simple cyanide chemosensor 2-(naphthalen-1-ylmethylene)malononitrile(L) was designed and synthesized via a green chemistry method in water without using any catalyst.The chemosensor showed an excellent sensitivity and selectivity for CN in aqueous solution.The detection limit could be as low as 1.6×10~7 moI/L(0.16μmol/L),which is far lower than the WHO guideline of 1.9μmol/L cyanide for drink water.     

A novel fluoride ion colorimetric chemosensor

A novel phosphonium derivative of naphthalene was synthesized by the reaction of 1,8-dibromomethylnaphthalene with triphenylphosphine, which only showed a distinct color change when treated with fluoride ions.     

A dipyrenyl calixazacrown chemosensor for Mg

A new fluorogenic calix[4]tetraaza-crown-6 (4) bearing two pyrene amide groups has been prepared. It was shown to be selective for Mg²⁺. When Mg²⁺ is bound to 4, the pyrene monomer emission increased while the excimer emission declined in a ratiometric manner. It is shown by ¹H NMR that this ratiometric change is due to the conformational changes of the pyrenes during the chelation of Mg²⁺ by the amide functions to form a 1:1 complex.     

Coumarin-based thiol chemosensor: synthesis, turn-on mechanism, and its biological application

A new chemodosimetric probe (1) is reported that selectively detects thiols over other relevant biological species by the turning on of its fluorescence through a Michael type reaction. The fluorogenic process upon its reaction was revealed to be mediated by intramolecular charge transfer, as confirmed by time-dependent density functional theory calculations. The application of probe 1 to cells is also examined by confocal microscopy, and its cysteine preference was observed by an ex vivo LC-MS analysis of the cellular metabolite.