Chemical Detection Of Selected Hallucinogens In Water

Abstract

A specific and non-destructive test for basic esters of benzilic and α-glycolic acids in water is described. The compounds are collected on a glass fiber filter as water insoluble complexes with sodium tetraphenylboron. The filter is dried and sprayed with a 2-diphenylacetyl-l, 3-indandione-l-imine derivative. A positive test is the visual observation of fluorescence.     

Recent Advances of AIE-Active Conjugated Polymers: Synthesis and Application

Conjugated polymers (CPs) have long been recognized as an important class of materials. The highly conjugated backbone of the CPs will facilitate the rapid exciton migration and result in amplification of fluorescence signals. However, CPs are likely to aggregate and form excimers in solid states, directly leading to the fluorescence quenching, namely aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), hence inhibiting their prospective utilizations in a large degree. Since the effect of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is opposite to that of notorious ACQ, the AIE has raised great attention from scientists. CPs with AIE or aggregation-enhanced emission (AEE) features may help to solve the ACQ problem and meanwhile impart polymers with new properties and practical applications. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on the preparation of CPs with AIE or AEE characteristics, where AIE-active luminogens are located at polymer backbones or pendants. Their potential applications including fluorescent sensors, biological probes, and active layers for the fabrication of light-emitting diodes are also described.     

Dimerisation and complexation of 6-(4′-t-butylphenylamino)naphthalene-2-sulphonate by β-cyclodextrin and linked β-cyclodextrin dimers

This study shows that stereochemical factors largely determine the extent to which 6-(4′-t-butylphenylamino)-naphthalene-2-sulphonate, BNS^?  and its dimer, (BNS^? )₂, are complexed by β-cyclodextrin, βCD, and a range of linked βCD dimers. Fluorescence and ¹H NMR studies, respectively, show that BNS^?  and (BNS^? )₂ form host–guest complexes with βCD of the stoichiometry βCD.BNS^?  (10^? 4 K ₁ = 4.67 dm³ mol^? 1) and βCD.BNS₂ ^2 ?  (10^? 2 K ₂′ = 2.31 dm³ mol^? 1), where the complexation constant K ₁ = [βCD.BNS^? ]/([βCD][BNS^? ]) and K ₂′ = [βCD. (BNS^? )₂]/([βCD.BNS^? ][BNS^? ]) in aqueous phosphate buffer at pH 7.0, I = 0.10 mol dm³ at 298.2 K. (The dimerisation of BNS^?  is characterised by 10^? 2 K _d = 2.65 dm³ mol^? 1.) For N,N-bis((2^AS,3^AS)-3^A-deoxy-3^A-β-cyclodextrin)succinamide, 33βCD₂su, N-((2^AS,3^AS)-3^A-deoxy-3^A-β-cyclodextrin)-N′-(6^A-deoxy-6^A-β-cyclodextrin)urea, 36βCD₂su, N,N-bis(6^A-deoxy-6^A-β-cyclodextrin)succinamide, 66βCD₂su, N-((2^AS,3^AS)-3^A-deoxy-3^A-β-cyclodextrin)-N′-(6^A-deoxy-6^A-β-cyclodextrin)urea, 36βCD₂ur, and N,N-bis(6^A-deoxy-6^A-β-cyclodextrin)urea, 66βCD₂ur, the analogous 10^? 4 K ₁ = 11.0, 101, 330, 29.6 and 435 dm³ mol^? 1 and 10^? 2 K ₂′ = 2.56, 2.31, 2.59, 1.82 and 1.72 dm³ mol^? 1, respectively. A similar variation occurs in K ₁ derived by UV–vis methods. The factors causing the variations in K ₁ and K ₂ are discussed in conjunction with ¹H ROESY NMR and molecular modelling studies.     

Three coordination polymers of 5-aminoisophthalic acid with similar benzimidazole derivative ligands: synthesis,structure and DNA-binding studies

Three novel coordination polymers, [Co(NH₂-Aip)(H₂Bibim)] _n (1), [Co(NH₂-Aip)(HBibimop)] _n  √ nH₂O (2) and [Mn(NH₂-Aip) √ H₂O] _n  √ 2nH₂O (3) with NH₂-Aip and similar benzimidazole derivative ligands (NH₂-Aip = 5-aminoisophthalic acid, H₂Bibim = 2,2′-bibenzimidazole and HBibimop = 1,3-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)-2-oxapropane), have been synthesised under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. 5-Aminoisophthalic acid ligand adopts μ₂-, μ₃- and μ₄-bridge coordination fashion and benzimidazole derivatives exist as terminal- and bridge-mode in complexes 1–3. The intricate hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions in supramolecular framework are discussed. Using the combination of ultraviolet–visible absorption titration and fluorescence spectra, the experimental results show that complexes 1 and 2 bind to DNA in an intercalative mode and their DNA-binding constants (K _b ) are also found.     

Photophysics of Silicon Phthalocyanines in Aqueous Media

Phthalocyanines have been used as photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents because of their uniquely favorable optical properties and high photostability. They have been shown to be highly successful for the treatment of cancer through efficient singlet‐oxygen (¹O₂) production. However, due to their hydrophobic properties, the considerations of solubility and cellular location have made understanding their photophysics in vitro and in vivo difficult. Indeed, many quantitative assessments of PDT reagents are undertaken in purely organic solvents, presenting challenges for interpreting observations during practical application in vivo. With steady‐state and time‐resolved laser spectroscopy, we show that for axial ligated silicon phthalocyanines in aqueous media, both the water:lipophile ratio and the pH have drastic effects on their photophysics, and ultimately dictate their functionality as PDT drugs. We suggest that considering the presented photophysics for PDT drugs in aqueous solutions leads to guidelines for a next generation of even more potent PDT agents.     

Aggregation Behavior of Pluronic-L64 in Presence of Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate in Water

The effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the micellization and aggregation behavior of a poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) amphiphilic copolymer (Pluronic L64: EO₁₃ PO₃₀ EO₁₃) have been investigated by various techniques like, cloud point, viscosity, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence spectroscopy, room temperature phosphorescence (RTP), and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). Addition of SDS in L64 solutions shows mark alteration of different properties. We observed synergistic interaction between SDS and Pluronic L64. The changes in the critical micelle concentration (CMC), critical micelle temperature (CMT), cloud point (CP), micelle size, and shape has been correlated and reported in terms of structure dynamics and mechanics. The ITC titrations have been used to explore the different stages of binding and interactions of SDS with L64. The enthalpies of aggregation for copolymer-SDS aggregates binding, organizational change of bound aggregates, and the threshold concentrations of SDS in the presence of copolymer were estimated directly from ITC titration curves. The effect of temperature on enthalpy values has been reported in terms of different aggregation state. Fluorescence and RTP for L64 were used to investigate the change in micellar environment on the addition of SDS at different temperature. Appearance and shifting of SANS peaks have been used to monitor the size and inter micellar interaction on addition of SDS in L64 solution. Cloud point and viscosity elaborate the penetration of SDS molecule in L64 micelle and hence changing the micellar architect.     

A PEGylated Fluorescent Turn‐On Sensor for Detecting Fluoride Ions in Totally Aqueous Media and Its Imaging in Live Cells

Owing to the considerable significance of fluoride anions for health and environmental issues, it is of great importance to develop methods that can rapidly, sensitively and selectively detect the fluoride anion in aqueous media and biological samples. Herein, we demonstrate a robust fluorescent turn‐on sensor for detecting the fluoride ion in a totally aqueous solution. In this study, a biocompatible hydrophilic polymer poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is incorporated into the sensing system to ensure water solubility and to enhance biocompatibility. tert‐Butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS) groups were then covalently introduced onto the fluorescein moiety, which effectively quenched the fluorescence of the sensor. Upon addition of fluoride ion, the selective fluoride‐mediated cleavage of the Si? O bond leads to the recovery of the fluorescein moiety, resulting in a dramatic increase in fluorescence intensity under visible light excitation. The sensor is responsive and highly selective for the fluoride anion over other common anions; it also exhibits a very low detection limit of 19 ppb. In addition, this sensor is operative in some real samples such as running water, urine, and serum and can accurately detect fluoride ions in these samples. The cytotoxicity of the sensor was determined to be Grade I toxicity according to United States Pharmacopoeia and ISO 10993‐5, suggesting the very low cytotoxicity of the sensor. Moreover, it was found that the senor could be readily internalized by both HeLa and L929 cells and the sensor could be utilized to track fluoride level changes inside the cells.