Labelling and binding of poly-( -lysine) to functionalised gold surfaces. Combined FT-IRRAS and XPS characterisation

We compare herein the interfacial reactivity of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA), 1-undecanethiol (UDT) and 11-mercaptoundecanol (MUD) on gold surfaces towards aqueous solutions of poly-( -lysine) (PL). Liquid-phase labelling of PL with the alkyne dicobalt hexacarbonyl cluster 1 combined with analysis of the substrates by Fourier transform infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy (FT-IRRAS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that irreversible binding of PL occurred in all cases. However, the mechanism of binding involved differed markedly from one monolayer to the other. The main mode of interaction of PL to MUA SAM was of electrostatic nature between the terminal carboxylate of MUA and the ammonium groups of PL. For a similar number of bound thiolate molecules, the UDT adsorbed layer was found less continuous than the MUA one, allowing a higher fraction of PL to directly bind to the gold surface. As for MUD, very little thiolate molecules were adsorbed, leaving bare gold surface areas for non specific adsorption of PL.     

Dual Esterase‐ and Steroid‐Responsive Energy Transfer Modulation of Ruthenium(II) and Rhenium(I) Complex Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

A number of adamantane‐containing ruthenium(II) and rhenium(I) complexes have been synthesized, characterized, and noncovalently functionalized with β‐cyclodextrin‐capped gold nanoparticles (β‐CD–GNPs) through the host–guest interaction between cyclodextrin and adamantane. The resultant nanoconjugates have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX), and 2D ROESY ¹H NMR experiments. The Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) properties of the nanoconjugates can be modulated by both esterase‐accelerated hydrolysis and competitive displacement of steroid, by monitoring the emission intensity and luminescence lifetime. The FRET efficiencies are found to vary with the nature of the chromophores and the length of the spacer between the transition metal complexes and the GNPs. This work constitutes a “proof‐of‐principle” assay method for the dual‐functional detection of important classes of biomolecules, such as enzymes and steroids.     

Non-symmetric chiral isoflavone dimers: synthesis,characterisation and mesomorphic behaviour

A new series of non-symmetric chiral isoflavone-based liquid crystalline dimers, α-(2-methylbutyl-4′-(4″-phenyloxy)benzoate)-ω-(3-(4′-decyloxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one-7-oxy)alkanes, with 3–12 carbon atoms in the alkyloxy spacer, have been synthesised. A pronounced odd–even effect for the phase transition temperatures upon varying the spacer length was observed. The short dimers exhibited monolayer smectic A (SmA) and smectic C (SmC*) phases while for longer homologues a chiral nematic (N*) phase was found. The temperature range of the nematic phase was broadened with elongation of the alkyl spacer. Stabilisation of the nematic phase resulted from competition between the monolayer and intercalated smectic structures. The SmA–SmC* phase transition was second order for all studied compounds with a cross over to the de Vries type behaviour for the shortest homologue.     

Electronic and resonance Raman spectra of [Au2(CS3)2]2-. Spectroscopic properties of a "short" Au(I)-Au(I) bond

The anion [Au2(CS3)2]2- has an unusually short Au-Au distance (2.80 A) for a binuclear Au(I) complex. We report detailed Raman studies of the nBu4N+ salt of this complex, including FT-Raman of the solid and UV/vis resonance Raman of dimethyl sulfoxide solutions. All five totally symmetric vibrations of the anion have been located and assigned. A band at delta nu = 125 cm-1 is assigned to nu (Au2). The visible-region electronic absorption bands (384 (epsilon 30,680) and 472 nm (epsilon 610 M-1 cm-1)) are attributable to CS3(2-) localized transitions, as confirmed by the dominance of nu sym(C-Sexo) (delta nu = 951 cm-1) in RR spectra measured in this region. An absorption band at 314 nm (22,250 M-1 cm-1) is assigned as the metal-metal 1(d sigma*-->p sigma) transition, largely because nu sym(C-Sexo) is not strongly enhanced in RR involving this band. Observation of the expected strong resonance enhancement of nu (Au2) was precluded as a result of masking by intense solvent Rayleigh scattering in the UV.     

Luminescence Behavior of Polynuclear Alkynylcopper(I) Phosphines

A series of soluble trinuclear and tetranuclear copper(I) complexes containing ₃-^l acetylides , and have been synthesized and shown to exhibit rich photoluminescent behavior at room temperature. The electrochemistry of the trinuclear Cu(I) acetylide complexes and the excited-state redox properties of have been investigated. The X-ray crystal structures of and have been determined.     

Luminescent Cyclometalated Alkynylplatinum(II) Complexes with a Tridentate Pyridine‐Based N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand: Synthesis,Characterization, Electrochemistry,Photophysics, and Computational Studies

A new class of luminescent alkynylplatinum(II) complexes with a tridentate pyridine‐based N‐heterocyclic carbene (2,6‐bis(1‐butylimidazol‐2‐ylidenyl)pyridine) ligand, [Pt^II(C^N^C)(C?CR)][PF₆], and their chloroplatinum(II) precursor complex, [Pt^II(C^N^C)Cl][PF₆], have been synthesized and characterized. One of the alkynylplatinum(II) complexes has also been structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The electrochemistry, electronic absorption and luminescence properties of the complexes have been studied. Nanosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy has also been performed to probe the nature of the excited state. The origin of the absorption and emission properties has been supported by computational studies.     

Molecular Dyads Comprising Metalloporphyrin and Alkynylplatinum(II) Polypyridine Terminal Groups for Use as a Sensitizer in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A new class of molecular dyads comprising metalloporphyrin‐linked alkynylplatinum(II) polypyridine complexes with carboxylic acids as anchoring groups has been designed and synthesized. These complexes can sensitize nanocrystalline TiO₂ in dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) studies. The photophysical, electrochemical, and luminescence properties of the complexes were studied and their excited‐state properties were investigated by nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, with the charge‐separated [Por^.??{(C?C)Pt(tBu₃tpy)}^.+] state observed upon excitation. Excited‐state redox potentials were determined; the electrochemical data supports the capability of the complexes to inject an electron into the conduction band of TiO₂. The complexes sensitize nanocrystalline TiO₂ and exhibited photovoltaic properties, as characterized by current–voltage measurements under illumination of air mass 1.5 G sunlight (100 mWcm^?2). A DSSC based on one of the complexes showed a short‐circuit photocurrent of 10.1 mAcm^?2, an open‐circuit voltage of 0.64 V, and a fill factor of 0.52, giving an overall power conversion efficiency of 3.4 %.     

Luminescent gold(I) complexes for chemosensing

With the rich spectroscopic and luminescence properties associated with aurophilic Au?Au interactions, gold(I) complexes have provided an excellent platform for the design of luminescent chemosensors. This review concentrates on our recent exploration of luminescent gold(I) complexes in host–guest chemistry. Through the judicious design and choice of the functional receptor groups, specific chemosensors for cations and/or anions have been obtained. Utilization of sensing mechanisms based on the on–off switching of Au?Au interactions and photoinduced electron transfer (PET) has been successfully demonstrated. The two-coordinate nature of gold(I) complexes has also been utilized for the design of ditopic receptors through connecting both cation- and anion-binding sites within a single molecule.