Characterization of a highly Al3+ -selective fluorescence probe based on naphthalimide-Schiff base and its application to practical water samples

A highly selective and sensitive fluorescent sensor based on a 1,8-naphthalimide with a Schiff base function for Hg2+ in aqueous media

A new fluorescent sensor, N-allyl-4-[(2-(3-methoxysalicylaldimino)ethylamino]-1,8-naphthalimide (HL), for Hg2+ has been developed where the Schiff base substituent acts as a recognition group. This sensor shows a large Stokes shift of 3535–4042 cm−1 and a general fluorescence quantum yield of 0.05, 249–0.11, 866 in organic solvents of different polarity as expected. It also exhibits highly selective and a sensitive response to Hg2+ (Ф Hg+HL/Ф HL = 2.28) over other metal ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+, Pb2+, Fe3+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Ag+, Co2+, Cr3+, Mn2+ and Cd2+) in solution (DMF/Tris-HCl buffer, 1:1, v/v, pH = 7.2). The Hg2+-induced fluorescence enhancement at 526 nm is proportional to the concentration of Hg2+ in the range of 0.5–4.0 µm with a detection limit of 0.18 µm. Based on the fluorescence titration and a Job’s plot analysis, the metal-to-ligand ratio of the complex is 2:1 with a binding constant of 1.56 × 1012 m −1.

Experimental and theoretical study of novel aminobenzamide–aminonaphthalimide fluorescent dyads with a FRET mechanism

In this work, both experimental and theoretical methods were used to study the photophysical and metal ion binding properties of a series of new aminobenzamide–aminonaphthalimide (2ABZ–ANAPIM) fluorescent dyads. The 2-aminobenzamide (2ABZ) and 6-aminonaphthalimide (ANAPIM) fluorophores were linked through alkyl chains (C₂ to C₆) to obtain four fluorescent dyads. These dyads present a highly efficient (0.61 to 0.98) Förster Resonant Energy Transfer (FRET) from the 2ABZ to the ANAPIM due to the 2ABZ emission and ANAPIM excitation band overlap and the configurational stacking of both aromatic systems which allows the energy transfer. These dyads interact with Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺ metal ions in solution inhibiting the FRET mechanism by the cooperative coordination of both 2ABZ and ANAPIM moieties. Both experimental and theoretical results are consistent and describe clearly the photophysical and coordination properties of these new dyads.

The aminobenzamide–aminonaphthalimide fluorescent dyads allow the determination of Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺ metal ion concentration from Förster Resonant Energy Transfer measurements.

Recent progresses in luminescent metal-organic frameworks (LMOFs) as sensors for the detection of anions and cations in aqueous solution

The discharge of excessive metal ions and anions into water bodies leads to the serious pollution of water and environment, which in turn has a certain impact on industry, agriculture, and human life. Because of the unique advantages of luminescent metal-organic frameworks (LMOFs), they have been successfully explored as various fluorescent probes to quickly and effectively detect these pollutants. This perspective not only introduces the design strategy and classification of LMOFs, especially the construction methods of water-stable LMOFs, but also reports the latest progresses in some LMOFs between 2016 and 2020 as well as expounds the mechanisms of LMOFs for detecting anions and cations. Moreover, the luminescence properties of LMOFs are related to the selection of metal ions, the structure of organic ligands, the pore size, and the interaction of guest molecules. Finally, the further development of LMOFs is summarized and prospected in this field.

Dual-channel ratiometric recognition of Al3+ and F- ions through an ESIPT-ESICT signalling mechanism

An optical probe 1 has been synthesized comprising naphthalimide unit conjugated with Schiff base, exhibiting excited state intramolecular proton transfer and intramolecular charge transfer as a potential sensor for Al³⁺ and F^- ions using standard spectroscopic techniques. The probe 1 exhibited local and charge-transfer excitation at 340 nm and 460 nm, respectively. On excitation at 460 nm, probe 1 displayed two emission bands at 510 nm and 610 nm, accompanied by Stokes' shift of 50 nm and 150 nm, respectively. The solvatochromic effect and theoretical calculation depicted that the representative emissions resulted from the ESICT/ESIPT phenomenon. Upon addition of Al³⁺ ions, the charge transfer excitation at 460 nm was enhanced ratiometrically to local excitation at 340 nm and showed a color change from orange to yellow. Similarily, probe 1.Al³⁺ displayed emission enhancement at 540 nm in H₂O/CH₃CN (1:9; v/v) and showed a color change from yellow to blue-green emission. Following the detection of Al³⁺ ions, hydrolysis of probe 1 to its reacting precursors was observed. The detection of Al³⁺ ions was also demonstrated in surfactant-containing water. The limit of detection (LOD) of probe 1 (H₂O/CH₃CN (1:9; v/v)) towards Al³⁺ ions was measured to be 3.2 × 10^-8 M. The probe 1 displayed a ratiometric absorption response towards F^- ions with a new peak at 570 nm and showed a color change from orange to purple. The probe 1.F^- displayed a decrease in emission at 635 nm. The LOD of probe 1 (CH₃CN) towards F^- ions was measured to be 7.5 × 10^-7 M.

A Highly Selective Perylenediimide-Based Chemosensor: "Naked-Eye" Colorimetric and Fluorescent Turn-On Recognition for Al3

A novel “turn-on” fluorescent probe (PCN) was designed, synthesized, and characterized with perylene tetracarboxylic disimide as the fluorophore and Schiff base subunit as the metal ion receptor. The probe demonstrated a considerable fluorescence enhancement in the presence of Al³⁺ in DMF with high selectivity and sensitivity. Furthermore, the considerably “off–on” fluorescence response simultaneously led to the apparent color change from colorless to brilliant yellow, which could also be identified by naked eye easily. The sensing capability of PCN to Al³⁺ was evaluated by the changes in ultraviolet–visible, fluorescence, Fourier transform–infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-resolution mass spectrometry spectroscopies. The linear concentration range for Al³⁺ was 0–63 μM with a detection limit of 0.16 μM, which allowed for the quantitative determination of Al³⁺.

Highly efficient detection of Cu2+ and B4 O7 2- based on a recyclable asymmetric salamo-based probe in aqueous medium

An asymmetric salamo-based probe molecule (H₂ L) was synthesized and characterized structurally. When DMF/H₂ O (9:1) was used as the solvent, it was shown probe H₂ L has high sensitivity to Cu²⁺ . Using high-resolution mass spectrometry and theoretical calculation, it was found that probe H₂ L could form a more stable complex (1:1) with Cu²⁺ , the minimum limit of detection (LOD) of H₂ L for Cu²⁺ was calculated as 9.95 × 10^-8 M. In addition, probe H₂ L could also be used to identify B₄ O₇ ^2- under the same detection conditions and the minimum LOD of H₂ L for B₄ O₇ ^2- was calculated as 4.98 × 10^-7 M. At the same time, density functional theory theoretical calculation further proved the flexibility of probe H₂ L. Through the action of EDTA, probe H₂ L had a cyclic ability to recognize Cu²⁺ , and showed a better response in the physiological pH range; probe H₂ L had the characteristics of fast recognition speed and high efficiency. In addition, with probe H₂ L test paper for Cu²⁺ and B₄ O₇ ^2- , the effect was more obvious. Meanwhile, probe H₂ L can be used to quantitatively detect Cu²⁺ in water samples.

A new 1,8-naphthalimide-based fluorescent “turn-off” sensor for detecting Cu2+ and sensing mechanisms

In this article, a new “turn-off” fluorescent sensor N- n-butyl-4-{2-[(ethylimino)methyl]phenol}-1,8-naphthalimide (HL) for CuII ions is synthesized, which contains a 1,8-naphthalimide moiety as the fluorophore and a Schiff base as the recognition group. As expected, it exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity for detecting CuII ions over other common metal ions in acetonitrile–2-(4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl)-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) (1:1 v/v, pH = 7.4) solution. In addition, the fluorescence intensity for HL showed a good linearity with the concentration of CuII ions in the range of 0.5–5.0 μM. The 2:1 binding stoichiometry between HL and CuII ions was established on the basis of combined fluorescence titrations, a Job’s plot, single-crystal X-ray analysis and mass spectrometry. The quenching response of HL toward CuII ions is attributed to the reverse photoinduced electron transfer mechanism. The proposed sensor HL is preliminarily applied to quantify CuII ions in water samples from the Yellow River and tap water.

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 selective fluorescence probe for copper(II) ion in aqueous solution based on a 1,8-naphthalimide Schiff base derivative

In order to realize real-time monitoring of Cu2+, a new fluorescent probe HL, a Schiff base derivative of N-n-butyl-4-[2]-1,8-naphthalimide, has been designed and synthesized. In methanol-HEPES [2-(4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl)-ethanesulfonic acid] solution (1:1, v/v, pH = 7.4) HL showed excellent selectivity towards Cu2+ over other common coexisting metal ions. The fluorescence intensity for HL showed a good linearity with the concentration of Cu2+ ions in the range of 0.5–5.0 μm. Based on combined fluorescence titration, Job’s plot analysis, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry results, Cu2+ forms a 1:2 complex with L. The fluorescence intensity of HL exhibits significant quenching after binding with Cu2+, owing to the strong, intrinsic paramagnetic behavior of Cu2+. Ultimately, in order to test the performance of the synthesized probe, HL was preliminarily applied to the determination of Cu2+ in the Yellow River and in tap water with satisfying results.

A simple turn-on ESIPT and PET-based fluorescent probe for detection of Al3+ in real-water sample

Aluminum is known as the most ubiquitous metal in earth's crust but its excessive exposure will cause damage to environment and health of the organism. Here, a turn-on Schiff base fluorescence probe STH based on excited state intramolecular proton transfer and photoelectron transfer processes for Al³⁺ detection with fast response rate (within minutes), low detection limit (4.26×10^-8M), high selectivity and reasonable pH application range (5.0-8.0) was developed. Fluorescence titration experiments show that probe STH has an excellent linear relationship (R²=0.9694) with Al³⁺ concentration and could be applied to quantitatively recognize Al³⁺ in real-water samples. Based on Job's plot and in situ mass spectra, two STH molecules will complex with Al³⁺ to form 2:1 complexation with oxygen atoms of hydroxyl and carbonyl groups and nitrogen atom of CN bond participating in coordination.

A New “Turn-On” Fluorescence Probe for Al3+ Detection and Application Exploring in Living Cell and Real Samples

An excess of Al3+ will lead to biological disorders and even many diseases. Therefore, detecting the levels of Al3+ in the human body has drawn great attention for health monitoring. The fluorescence method has been broadly applied because of high sensitivity, real-time detection, and intracellular imaging. In this work, a new probe with “turn-on” fluorescence based on Schiff base derivative, 3,6-imine-triphenylamine-(9-ethyl) carbazole (ITEC), has been successfully synthesized and studied. The high selectivity and sensitivity of ITEC to Al3+ were verified by fluorescence spectra and the detection limit was 2.19 nmol/L. A 1:2 stoichiometry of ITEC-Al3+ was obtained by the 1H NMR spectra and Job’s plot. Furthermore, ITEC was successfully applied to the detection of Al3+ with different concentrations in living HeLa cells. The analog experiments about nature contamination of Al3+ in cells and real samples were finished.

Al(iii)-responsive "off-on" chemosensor based on rhodamine derivative and its application in cell imaging

In this work, a new rhodamine chemosensor (P) with excellent photochromic properties upon vis irradiation was designed and synthesized. The fabricated chemosensor P could detect Al3+ via the opening of the spirolactam ring of the rhodamine unit with high selectivity and sensitivity. The spirolactam ring opening was confirmed by NMR and infrared spectroscopy. Upon binding with Al3+, the generated 1 : 1 P-Al3+ complex, confirmed by Job's plot titrations and mass spectrometry analysis, could exhibit a remarkable fluorescence enhancement with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.16 μM. Furthermore, the sensing of P to Al3+ in vivo was also studied quantitatively and qualitatively in detail, and the results showed that the coordination between P with Al3+ was reversible in living cells.

A new fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensor for Al3+ and F−/CN− based on a julolidine unit and its bioimaging in living cells

A novel multifunctional chemosensor HL bearing a julolidine unit and a Schiff base unit has been synthesized. As a fluorescent sensor, HL exhibited excellent selectivity and high sensitivity to Al³⁺ and F⁻/CN⁻ with a low detection limit in acetonitrile. Moreover, HL also showed good colorimetric selectivity to F⁻/CN⁻; a solution color change from colorless to light yellow in acetonitrile was observed by the ‘naked-eye’. The properties of HL with Al³⁺ and F⁻/CN⁻ were studied by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry and ¹H NMR titration. Furthermore, the cell imaging experimental results indicated that the chemosensor HL could be applied for the detection of Al³⁺ in living cells.

A novel multifunctional chemosensor HL bearing a julolidine unit and a Schiff base unit has been synthesized.