A new fluorescent probe for Al(3+) based on rhodamine 6G and its application to bioimaging

A water-soluble rhodamine-based derivative (L) has been rationally designed for selective recognition of Al(3+) in aqueous medium with good sensitivity. The addition of Al(3+) to the aqueous solution of L induces a remarkable fluorescence enhancement along with obvious color change detected by the naked eye, due to the ring-opening mechanism of the rhodamine spirolactam, which has been proved by single crystal diffraction analyses directly. The recognizing behavior has been investigated both experimentally and computationally. Furthermore, the fluorescent probe can also be used as a bioimaging reagent for detection of Al(3+) in living cells.

Self-assembly of an unprecedented polyoxomolybdate anion [Mo20O66]12- in a giant peanut-like 62-core silver-thiolate nanocluster

A polyoxometalate-templated silver thiolate nanocluster, [Ag62(S(t)Bu)40(Mo20O66)(Mo6O19)3(CH3CN)2]·(CF3SO3)4 (1), has been isolated, in which a giant peanut-like silver(i)-thiolate cluster [Ag62(S(t)Bu)40](22+) encapsulates an unprecedented [Mo20O66](12-) polyoxoanion core. It opens a new approach for the synthesis of both elusive polyoxometalates and high-nuclearity silver(i)-thiolate nanoclusters.

A thermochromic silver nanocluster exhibiting dual emission character

A Ag12(SCH2C10H7)6(CF3CO2)6(CH3CN)6 (1) nanocluster modified using naphthalen-2-yl-methanethiol was synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. The targeted luminescent nanocluster displays dual emission with the property of reversible thermochromism spanning from red to bright yellow.

A colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent pH probe based on ring opening/closing approach and its applications in monitoring cellular pH change

A cell permeable colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent pH probe with a pK_avalue of 6.0 has been developed.

A cyclic dodecanuclear cobalt cluster based on a derivative of the rhodamine 6G dye with unusual magnetization

A novel cyclic dodecanuclear cluster [Co^II₁₂(L)₆(OH)₆(Ac)₆]·2DMF (1) decorated by a rhodamine 6G derivative (H₂L) presents dominant intracluster antiferromagnetic interactions with S-shaped M vs. H plots.

A highly sensitive C3-symmetric Schiff-base fluorescent probe for Cd2+

A new C3-symmetric Schiff-base fluorescent probe (L) based on 8-hydroxy-2-methylquinoline has been developed. As expected, the probe L can display high fluorescent selectivity for Cd(2+) over Zn(2+) and most other common ions in neutral ethanol aqueous medium. Moreover, the mechanism of the L-Cd(2+) complex has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography and density functional theory calculation results. More importantly, L could be used to image Cd(2+) within living cells.

High-nuclearity silver(I) cluster-based coordination polymers assembled with multidentate oligo-α-heteroarylsulfanyl ligands

Two novel coordination polymers [Ag16(SO4)8][Ag4(SO4)2]3(L1)12·nH2O (n = 72) (1) and [Ag10(SO4)5(L2)4(H2O)2]·8H2O (2) based on conformationally variable oligo-α-heteroarylsulfanyl ligands 2-(pyrazin-2-ylthio)-6-(pyridin-2-ylthio)pyrazine (L1) or 2,6-bis(pyrazin-2-ylthio)pyrazine (L2) and sulfate-templated high-nuclearity Ag(I) clusters as structure-building units (SBUs) have been synthesized under mild conditions. Single-crystal X-ray analysis showed that complex 1 exhibits a porous three-dimensional framework containing Ag16(SO4)8 and Ag4(SO4)2 SBUs that are interconnected by L1 ligands, whereas 2 has a much denser network constructed from Ag10(SO4)5 SBUs and L2 linkers. To our knowledge, the Ag16(SO4)8 cluster core found in 1 is the largest sulfate-based polynuclear SBU in coordination polymers, and the 14-connected Ag10(SO4)5 in 2 is the highest-connectivity Ag(I) cluster SBU reported to date. These two complexes were fully characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry.

Organosilver(I) framework assembly with trifluoroacetate and enediyne-functionalized alicycles

Eight new silver(I) trifluoroacetate complexes based on a series of designed ligands, each featuring an alicyclic ring with enediyne functionality, have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Each ethynide terminal is inserted into an Agn (n = 4-5) basket, leading to the generation of coordination chain or layer structures, but the well shielded ethenyl group does not take part in silver-olefin bonding. Variation in ring size of the alicycles is shown to influence the construction of the organosilver(I) coordination networks, which are consolidated by weak intermolecular interactions in the crystal structures. The effect of adding ancillary N-donor ligands to the reaction system on the coordination and supramolecular network assembly is also investigated.

Supramolecular silver(i) coordination isomers of different dimensionalities assembled using a conformationally flexible multidentate oligo-α-sulfanylpyrazinyl ligand

Three silver(i) supramolecular coordination isomers that display different dimensionalities and one homologue are derived from the conformationally flexible multidentate ligand 2,6-bis(pyrazin-2-ylthio)pyrazine (L).

Assembly of Layer-Type Organosilver(I) Complexes Incorporating Nitrate and Isomeric Halophenylethynide Ligands

Single-crystal X-ray analysis of a series of 10 silver(i) nitrate complexes containing carbon-rich ligands each composed of a halosubstituted phenyl nucleus bearing a terminal ethynyl group at various positions provided detailed information on the influence of ligand disposition and orientation, coordination preferences, and the co-existence of silver(i)–ethynide and silver(i)–halogen interactions in the construction of coordination networks, which are consolidated by argentophilic and weak intra or intermolecular interactions.

Two new isomerous fluorescent chemosensors for Al(3+) based on photoinduced electron transfer

Two new isomerous PET fluorescent chemosensors (L and L') for Al(3+) have been designed, synthesized and characterized. The two chemosensors exhibited fluorescence enhancement upon binding Al(3+) in CH3CN by PET inhibition processes from both the sulfur and the nitrogen donors to anthracene. The job's plot, Benesi-Hildebrand plot and (1)H NMR titration experiments indicate that both chemosensors form a 1:1 complex with Al(3+). The binding constants were calculated to be (1.432±0.186)×10(5) and (1.427±0.970)×10(5), respectively. Furthermore, the lowest detection limit for Al(3+) in CH3CN was determined to be 4.8×10(-7)M and 2.2×10(-7)M, respectively.