Self‐Deprotonation and Colorization of 1,3‐Bis(dicyanomethylidene)indan in Polar Media: A Facile Route to a Minimal Polymethine Dye for NIR Fluorescence Imaging

Colorless 1,3‐bis(dicyanomethylidene)indan is an organic acid (pK_a≈3.0) that turns blue in polar media owing to self‐deprotonation. Moreover, its colored conjugate base shows potential as a minimal anionic polymethine dye for probing biomolecules in cells and in vivo through noncovalent complexation and near‐infrared fluorescence signaling.     

2-D interwoven and 3-D 5-fold interpenetrating silver(I) complexes of 1-(isocyanidomethyl)-1H-benzotriazole and 1,3-bis(dicyanomethylidene)indan

This paper presents novel and distinctive organosilver polymers with intriguing structure motifs, constructed from iodoacetonitrile (L1), 1-(isocyanidomethyl)-1H-benzotriazole (L2), 1,3-bis(dicyanomethylidene)indan (L3), and silver(I) salts, respectively. Treatment of L1 with AgClO4 generated [Ag(L1)(ClO4)]n (1), whose X-ray determination revealed a 2-D wavy sheet structure with square grids. Reaction of L2 with AgPF6 gave rise to a novel 2-D wavy interwoven network, ([Ag(L2)(PO2F2)0.5])n (2). The complex [Ag2(L3)2]n (3) obtained by reaction of AgClO4 with L3 can be regarded as unprecedented 3-D 5-fold interpenetrating nets with columnar aromatic stacks and indicates semiconductive behavior. The IR, ESR spectroscopic results, conductivities, and structural features of the complexes are discussed, respectively. The present findings may provide insight into the coordination versatility of silver(I) and polynitrile ligands and an inspiration for the self-assembly of novel supramolecular networks with multifunctional ligands. Crystal data: 1, C2H2AgINClO4, orthorhombic, Pca2(1) (No. 29), a = 14.503(1) A, b = 5.104(2) A, c = 10.2019(9) A, Z = 4; 2, C8H6AgN4PF4O, orthorhombic, Pnna (No. 52), a = 12.2705(3) A, b = 21.150(1) A, c = 10.040(1) A, Z = 8; 3, C30H10Ag2N8, triclinic, P1 (No. 2), a = 14.920(2) A, b = 11.896(2) A, c = 7.400(4) A, alpha = 86.55(2) degrees, beta = 80.87(2) degrees, gamma = 74.47(1) degrees, Z = 2.     

Lewis acid-promoted addition of 1,3-bis(silyl)propenes to aldehydes: a route to 1,3-dienes

The Lewis acid-promoted addition of 1,3-bis(silyl)propenes to aldehydes to provide the corresponding (E)-1,3-dienes in excellent stereoselectivity and good to excellent yields is reported. The procedure is mild, base-free, and operationally straightforward.     

Reactions of β-dimethylaminoacrolein aminal and 3-dimethylamino-1,1,3-trimethoxypropane with 3-(dicyanomethylidene)indan-1-one and 1,3-bis(dicyanomethylidene)indane

Reactions of 3-(dicyanomethylidene)indan-1-one and 1,3-bis(dicyanomethylidene)indane with β-dimethylaminoacrolein aminal, 3-dimethylamino-1,1,3-trimethoxypropane, DMF acetal, and ethyl orthoformate were studied. The reaction of 3-(dicyanomethylidene)indan-1-one with 3-dimethylamino-1,1,3-trimethoxypropane gave the 1,3-bis(1-dicyanomethylidene-3-oxoindane)trimethineoxanine salt in high yield, which was used to obtain a number of novel cation-anionic polymethine dyes. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2182–2185, November, 2007.     

Addition of chlorodisilanes to 1,3-butadienes in the presence of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0). A facile route to (Z)-1,4-bis(chlorosilyl)but-2-enes

In the presence of a catalytic amount of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0), chlorodisilanes of type Me_nSi₂Cl_6-n (n  0, 2, 3 and 4) add to 1,3-butadienes to give (Z)-1,4-bis(chlorosilyl)but-2-enes.     

Macromolecular complexation of poly(methylenephosphine) to gold(I): a facile route to highly metallated polymers

Alternating phosphorus-carbon polymers are found to be effective ligands for gold(i) to afford [MesP(AuCl)-CPh2]n, a new class of macromolecule with high gold content.     

Rapid amplitude-modulation of a diarylethene photoswitch: en route to contrast-enhanced fluorescence imaging

A water soluble diarylethene (DAE) derivative that displays exceptionally intense fluorescence from the colorless open form has been synthesized and characterized using UV/vis spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. We show that the bright emission from the open form can be rapidly switched using amplitude modulated red light, that is, by light at wavelengths longer than those absorbed by the fluorescent species. This is highly appealing in any context where undesired background fluorescence disturbs the measurement, e.g., the autofluorescence commonly observed in fluorescence microscopy. We show that this scheme is conveniently applicable using lock-in detection, and that robust amplitude modulation of the probe fluorescence is indeed possible also in cell studies using fluorescence microscopy.

A water soluble diarylethene derivative displaying exceptionally bright fluorescence in the open isomeric form has been used for emission amplitude-modulation. We apply this scheme in fluorescence microscopy, aiming to suppress undesired background.     

Spectral properties of pro-multimodal imaging agents derived from a NIR dye and a metal chelator

Monomolecular multimodal imaging agents (MOMIAs) are able to provide complementary diagnostic information of a target diseased tissue. We developed a convenient solid-phase approach to construct two pro-MOMIAs (before incorporating radiometal) derived from 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and cypate, a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye analogous to indocyanine green (ICG). The possible interaction between d orbitals of transition metal DOTA complexes or free metals and the p orbitals of cypate chromophore could quench the fluorescence of pro-MOMIAs. However, we did not observe significant changes in the spectral properties of cypate upon conjugation with DOTA and subsequent chelation with metals. The fluorescence intensity of the chelated and nonmetal-chelated PRO-MOMIAs remained fairly the same in dilute 20% aqueous dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution (1 x 10(-6) M). Significant reduction in the fluorescence intensity of pro-MOMIAs occurred in the presence of a large excess of metal ions (>1 molar ratio for indium and 20-fold for a copper relative to pro-MOMIA). This study suggests the feasibility of using MOMIAs for combined optical and radioisotope imaging.     

Synthesis of olivanic acid analogues: a facile route to 3-(2-pyrimidinylthio-) substituted derivatives

3-(2-Pyrimidinylthio-) substituted olivanic acid analogues, with and without a C-6 hydroxyethyl substituent, have been synthesised in high yield using an intramolecular Wittig reaction followed by deprotection to afford zwitterions with high antibacterial activity.     

A core-shell nanoparticle approach to photoreversible fluorescence modulation of a hydrophobic dye in aqueous media

Amphiphilic core-shell nanoparticles containing spiropyran moieties have been prepared in aqueous media. The nanoparticles consist of hydrophilic and biocompatible poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) chain segments, which serve as the shell, and a hydrophobic copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA), a spiropyran-linked methacrylate, and a cross-linker, which forms the core of the nanoparticles. A hydrophobic fluorescent dye based on the nitrobenzoxadiazolyl (NBD) group was introduced into the nanoparticles to form NBD-nanoparticle complexes in water. The nanoparticles not only greatly enhance the fluorescence emission of the hydrophobic dye NBD in aqueous media, probably by accommodating the dye molecules in the interface between the hydrophilic shells and the hydrophobic cores, but also modulate the fluorescence of the dye through intraparticle energy transfer. This biocompatible and photoresponsive nanoparticle complex may find applications in biological areas such as biological diagnosis, imaging, and detection. In addition, this nanoparticle approach will open up possibilities for the fluorescence modulation of other hydrophobic fluorophores in aqueous media.     

A facile route to a versatile synthon for preparation of cis-pyrethroids

$\text{cis}$-2-Cyano-3,3-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid was obtained in >50% overall yield starting with ethyl 3,3-dimethylacrylate. The key step involved a tandem Michael reaction - intramolecular displacement to afford stereoselectively a cyclopropanoid precursor of $\text{cis}$-pyrethroids.     

Dip and wait: a facile route to nanostructured porphyrin films for QCM functionalization

A facile and straightforward way to deposit nanostructured porphyrin films onto quartz surfaces is presented. The particular peripheral functionalization on the macrocycle is exploited to drive the formation of aggregates in solution, which then spontaneously deposit as ordered solid layers. Film deposition is then achieved by simple dipping the quartz slide into a solution containing porphyrin aggregates and waiting the formation of the related thin films. QCMs covered with different metalloporphyrin derivatives have been exposed to some model VOCs, showing in general good performances especially in all the cases where film morphology is fundamental for sensing interactions.     

Double phosphinylation of propargylic alcohols: a novel synthetic route to 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane derivatives

[reaction: see text] Double phosphinylation of propargylic alcohols with diphenylphosphine oxide in the presence of a thiolate-bridged diruthenium complex as catalyst gives the corresponding 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphinyl)-1-propenes in high yields with a complete selectivity.     

A facile route to germanium(IV) binaphthoxide complexes: crystal structure of a chiral resolved germanium(IV) binaphthoxide

A method for the facile synthesis of chiral germanium(IV) binaphthoxide complexes from the corresponding binaphthols and an organogermanium trichloride has been developed, which allows these unusual types of compounds to be synthesized in high yields. The crystal structure of one such complex, (S)-[Ge{O2C20H10(SiMe3)2-3,3'}{Cl}{Ph}], has been determined.     

Neodymium(III) tris(1,3-bis(1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)propane-1,3-dionato)(1,10-phenanthroline): Synthesis and photophysical properties

The reaction of NdCl₃ with 1,3-bis(1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)propane-1,3-dione (HL) and 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) in the presence of a base afforded complex [Nd(L)₃Phen] (I). Unstable solvate I · 2CH₂Cl₂ was obtained from a solution of the complex in dichloromethane, and its structure was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The photophysical properties of the complex were studied. Possible routes for the energy transfer in the course of photoluminescence were proposed.     

Substituted 1,3-bis(imino)isoindole diols: a new class of proton transfer dyes

A new class of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) dyes based on a 1,3-bis(imino)isoindole diol motif has been prepared. These molecules exhibit orange emission (～600 nm) with a large apparent Stokes shift (>6000 cm(-1)) and quantum efficiencies up to 45%. Selective modification of the substituents can be used to shift the equilibrium between the enol and keto forms of the molecule in both the ground and excited states.     

A facile structural rearrangement to unprecedented mu 2-eta 6:eta 6-bis(cyclopentadienylidene)ethene diruthenium complexes in the oxidation of 1,2-bis(ruthenocenyl)ethynes

The two-electron oxidation of 1,2-bis(ruthenocenyl)ethynes and bis(1',2',3',4',5'-pentamethylruthenocenyl)ethynes, prepared from alkyne metathesis of the corresponding propynes, gave the unprecedented mu 2-eta 6:eta 6-bis(cyclopentadienylidene)ethene diruthenium complexes.     

Novel doubly cross-conjugated cations: 1,2- and 1,3-bis(dithio-cyclopropenylio)cyclopentadienides

The titled cationic systems with a doubly cross-conjugated 3-5-3 membered ring have been successfully synthesized. The change of electronic structure due to difference of substituent and substitution mode is discussed on the basis of their spectral data.