A quinoline derived Schiff base as highly selective 'turn-on' probe for fluorogenic recognition of Al3+ ion

A quinoline-derived Schiff base QnSb has been synthesized for fluorescent and colorimetric recognition of Al3+ ions in a semi-aqueous medium. The compound QnSb has been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H/13C NMR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectral techniques. The crystal structure of the QnSb was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) analysis. Notably, almost non-fluorescent QnSb served as a 'turn on' responsive probe for Al3+ by inducing a remarkable fluorescence enhancement at 422 nm when excited at 310 nm. The probe QnSb exhibited high selectivity for Al3+ in CH3CN/H2O (4:1, v/v) solution over several competing metal ions (e.g., Mg2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, Ni2+, Fe3+/2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Sn2+, and Hg2+). The limit of detection (LoD) was computed as low as 15.8 nM which is significantly lower than the permissible limit set by WHO for Al3+ ions in drinking water. A 1:1 binding stoichiometry of complex QnSb-Al3+ was established with the help of Job's plot, ESI-MS, NMR and DFT analyses. Based on its remarkable sensing ability, the probe QnSb was utilized to establish molecular logic gates, and the fluorescence detection of Al3+ could clearly be demonstrated on the filter paper test strips.

A portable and intelligent logic detector for simultaneous and in-situ detection of Al3+ and fluoride in groundwater

To develop a convenient and intelligent detector for simultaneous and in-situ detection of Al³⁺ and F^- in groundwater, a novel organic probe called RBP has been prepared. With the increase of Al³⁺, RBP showed a significant fluorescence enhancement at 588 nm, and the detection limit was 0.130 mg/L. After combining with fluorescent internal standard CDs, the fluorescence of RBP-Al-CDs at 588 nm was quenched due to the replace of F^- for Al³⁺, while the CDs at 460 nm remained unchanged, and the detection limit was 0.0186 mg/L. For convenient and intelligent detection, an RBP-based logic detector has been developed for simultaneous detection of Al³⁺ and F^-. Within the ultra-trace, low concentration, and high concentration range of Al³⁺ and F^-, the logic detector can achieve rapid feedback on their concentration levels ("U", "L" and "H") through different output modes of the signal lamps. The development of logical detector is of great significance for studying the in-situ chemical behavior of Al³⁺ and F^- and for daily household detection.

Reversible Recognition-Based Boronic Acid Probes for Glucose Detection in Live Cells and Zebrafish

Glucose, a critical source of energy, directly determines the homeostasis of the human body. However, due to the lack of robust imaging probes, the mechanism underlying the changes of glucose homeostasis in the human body remains unclear. Herein, diboronic acid probes with good biocompatibility and high sensitivity were synthesized based on an ortho-aminomethylphenylboronic acid probe, phenyl(di)boronic acid (PDBA). Significantly, by introducing the water-solubilizing group -CN directly opposite the boronic acid group and -COOCH₃ or -COOH groups to the β site of the anthracene in PDBA, we obtained the water-soluble probe Mc-CDBA with sensitive response (F/F₀ = 47.8, detection limit (LOD) = 1.37 μM) and Ca-CDBA with the highest affinity for glucose (K_a = 4.5 × 10³ M^-1). On this basis, Mc-CDBA was used to identify glucose heterogeneity between normal and tumor cells. Finally, Mc-CDBA and Ca-CDBA were used for imaging glucose in zebrafish. Our research provides a new strategy for designing efficient boronic acid glucose probes and powerful new tools for the evaluation of glucose-related diseases.

Ni (II) detection by 2-amino-5-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazole as a chemosensor using photo-physical method: Antifungal, antioxidant, DNA binding, and molecular docking studies

An oxadiazole derivative 2 was prepared by condensation reaction through cyclization of semicarbazone in the presence of bromine and the structural confirmation was supported by ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, and LC-MS spectrometry. Its sensing ability was examined towards Ni²⁺ ion with binding constant 1.04 x 10⁵ over the other suitable metal cations (Ca²⁺ , Co²⁺ , Cr³⁺ , Ag⁺ , Pb²⁺ , Fe³⁺ , Mg²⁺ , and K⁺ ) by UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopic studies and the minimum concentration of Ni²⁺ ion with LOD was found to be 9.4μM. Job's plot method gives the binding stoichiometry ratio of Ni²⁺ ion vs oxadiazole derivative 2 to be 2:1. Furthermore, the intercalative binding mode of oxadiazole derivative 2 with Calf Thymus DNA was supported by UV-Vis, fluorescence, viscosity, cyclic voltammetry, time-resolved fluorescence, and circular dichroism measurements. The molecular docking result gives the binding score for oxadiazole derivative 2 to be -6.5 kcal/mol, which further confirms the intercalative interaction. In addition, the anti-fungal activity of oxadiazole derivative 2 was also screened against fungal strains (C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis) by broth dilution and disc diffusion method. In the antioxidant studies, the oxadiazole derivative 2 showed potential scavenging activity against DPPH and H₂ O₂ free radicals.

Biphenyl Containing Amido Schiff base Derivative as a Turn-on Fluorescent Chemosensor for Al3+ and Zn2+ ions

A hydrazine derived Bis(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2,2'-dicarbohydrazide (sensor 1) has been synthesized and its sensing properties towards metal ions has been demonstrated using simple UV-visble spectroscopic, fluorometric technique and visible colour change. The...

A naphthalene-based azo armed molecular framework for selective sensing of Al3+

A naphthalene-based azo armed molecular derivative was synthesized for sensing of Al3+ and cell imaging studies. The fluorescence enhancement is caused by restricted CN isomerization, CHEF on, and PET-off processes.

A highly selective aggregation-induced emission fluorogen for sensitive detection of Al3+ in living cells

A Schiff's base derivative was synthesized using a condensation reaction between 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin and furan-2-carbohydrazide that produced marked aggregation-induced emission and had excellent ability to specifically recognize aluminium ions (Al³⁺ ). This compound displayed faint fluorescence in the benign solvent dimethyl formamide, and exhibited obvious green fluorescence following addition of specific amounts of water. Moreover, it exhibited strong blue fluorescence after combination with Al³⁺ even in the presence of other interfering ions. These experimental results demonstrated that this derivative could be used as a fluorescence probe for Al³⁺ . The advantages, including significant fluorescence change, high selectivity and sensitivity, and fast response, meant that this probe could be used both to detect Al³⁺ in water samples and for fluorescence imaging in living cells.

A new fluorescent-colorimetric chemosensor based on a Schiff base for detecting Cr3+, Cu2+, Fe3+ and Al3+ ions

A new Schiff base derivative fluorescence-colorimetric chemosensor 2-hydroxy-5-[(2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl)methylideneamino]benzoic acid (H₃L), has been designed and synthesized. H₃L displayed high selectivity and sensitivity for detecting Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ ions in DMF/H₂O (v/v = 1/1) solution. When Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺ or Fe³⁺ ions were added, the solution of H₃L in DMF/H₂O exhibited different color changes. While with the addition of Fe³⁺ or Al³⁺ ions, the solution of H₃L in DMF/H₂O displayed different fluorescence responses. The bonding modes and bonding ratios of H₃L and metal ions were explored by the Job's plot, ¹H NMR titration, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The detection limits of H₃L with Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺and Al³⁺ ions were 3.37 × 10^-7 M, 4.65 × 10^-7 M, 3.58 × 10^-7 M and 4.89 × 10^-7 M, respectively.

A phenolphthalein-based fluorescent probe for the sequential sensing of Al3+ and F- ions in aqueous medium and live cells

A novel fluorescent probe, phenolphthalein‑dialdehyde‑(2‑pyridyl) hydrazone (L), for sequentially detecting Al³⁺ and F^- in almost 100% aqueous medium was successfully designed and synthesized. The probe offers two binding pockets for Al³⁺ to form a 1: 2 ligand/metal complex, leading to a significant fluorescence enhancement at 465 nm. Further, the in-situ formed L-Al complex acts as a secondary fluorescent chemosensor for F^- by quenching the fluorescence of the complex with high selectivity. The detection limit for Al³⁺ and F^- sensing is 2.28 nM and 0.13 μM, respectively, which are far below the World Health Organization (WHO) acceptable limits (7.41 μM for Al³⁺ ion and 79 μM for F^-) in drinking water. The probe L was successfully applied to the detection of Al³⁺ and F^- in cells using fluorescence microscopy.