Synthesis, Characterization, Spectroscopic, and Electrochemiluminescence Properties of a Solvatochromic Azacrown-Containing Cyanoruthenate(II): Potential Applications in Separation and Indirect Photometric Detection of Cations and Amino Acids in HPLC

Enantioselective transition metal catalysis directed by chiral cations

Enantioselective transition metal catalysis directed by chiral cations is the amalgamation of chiral cation catalysis and organometallic catalysis. Thus far, three strategies have been revealed: ligand scaffolds incorporated on chiral cations, chiral cations paired with transition metal ‘ate’-type complexes, and ligand scaffolds incorporated on achiral anions. Chiral cation ion-pair catalysis has been successfully applied to alkylation, cycloaddition, dihydroxylation, oxohydroxylation, sulfoxidation, epoxidation and C–H borylation. This development represents an effective approach to promote the cooperation between chiral cations and transition metals, increasing the versatility and capability of both these forms of catalysts. In this review, we present current examples of the three strategies and suggest possible inclusions for the future.

Enantioselective transition metal catalysis directed by chiral cations is the amalgamation of chiral cation catalysis and organometallic catalysis.

Palladium(II)-directed self-assembly of a neutral molecular triangle as a heteroditopic receptor for ion pairs

A molecular triangle, based on the self-assembly of 4,7-phenanthroline by a neutral palladium complex, has been synthesized and characterized by a combination of techniques: (1)H NMR and UV-vis absorption spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and gel permeation chromatography. This new neutral metallocavitand has demonstrated the capacity to host both anionic and cationic guests, thus acting as an open-shaped heteroditopic receptor. Density functional theory calculations have shown that (i) there is no overtension in the assembly of the discrete triangle, which is more stable than open-chain oligomers, (ii) the adducts formed between the triangle and some salts (modeled in the gas phase) are thermodynamically stable, and (iii) two types of cavities coexist in the triangle, which host ions and ion pairs. This easily accessible triangular unit extends further the rational design of model nanoarchitectures in host-guest chemistry with applications in analytical chemistry and multifunctional molecular materials.

Förster resonance energy transfer studies of luminescent gold nanoparticles functionalized with ruthenium(II) and rhenium(I) complexes: modulation via esterase hydrolysis

A number of ruthenium(II) and rhenium(I) bipyridine complexes functionalized with lipoic acid moieties have been synthesized and characterized. Functionalization of gold nanoparticles with these chromophoric ruthenium(II) and rhenium(I) complexes has resulted in interesting supramolecular assemblies with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) properties that could be modulated via esterase hydrolysis. The luminescence of the metal complex chromophores was turned on upon cleavage of the ester bond linkage by esterase to reduce the efficiency of FRET quenching. The prepared nanoassembly conjugates have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV-visible spectroscopy, and emission spectroscopy. The quenching mechanism has also been studied by transient absorption and time-resolved emission decay measurements. The FRET efficiencies were found to vary with the nature of the chromophores and the length of the spacer between the donor (transition metal complexes) and the acceptor (gold nanoparticles).

Anion selective chromogenic and fluorogenic chemosensor and its application in breast cancer live cell imaging

A novel anion selective chromogenic and fluorogenic chemosensor (L) bearing catechol and phenol groups was developed. The sensorLwas tested for live breast cancer cell imaging and can be applied to the breast tumour diagnosis.

A new class of highly solvatochromic dicyano rhenate(I) diimine complexes--synthesis, photophysics and photocatalysis

A new class of dicarbonyl dicyano rhenate(I) diimine complexes, cis,trans-[Re(CO)(2)(CN)(2)(N-N)](-), with highly environmentally sensitive MLCT absorption and emission properties was synthesised and characterised. Preliminary experiments revealed that these complexes are active photocatalysts for CO(2) reduction.

[Ru(dpp)(3)][(4-Clph)(4)B](2) nanoislands directly assembled on an ITO electrode surface and its electrogenerated chemiluminescence

In this work, solid-state tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) ditetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate ([Ru(dpp)(3)][(4-Clph)(4)B](2)) nanoislands are assembled spontaneously and simultaneously on an indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) glass electrode surface via a facile dewetting procedure. The fabrication process is very simple and also amenable to mass production. The as-prepared ruthenium complex nanoislands exhibit useful properties. The electrode is more electrochemically active and can produce strong, stable, reproducible solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signals using oxalate as the coreactant. The self-assembled nanoislands exhibit semiconductor-like broad, red-shift ECL spectrum. More importantly, they extend the application of the ruthenium complex ECL system from the usual alkaline to acidic conditions. The pH turn-off behavior of the ECL is observed for the first time and can serve as an ultrasensitive pH sensor around physiological pH 7.0. The solid-state [Ru(dpp)(3)][(4-Clph)(4)B](2) ECL signal is efficiently inhibited by phenol even at a very low concentration (i.e., 20 nM), thus providing the potential for the determination of phenolic compounds in practical applications.

Multifunctional ruthenium(II) polypyridine complex-based core-shell magnetic silica nanocomposites: magnetism, luminescence, and electrochemiluminescence

Multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) that consist of silica-coated magnetic cores and luminescent ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes have been prepared. These multifunctional nanocomposites were shown to exhibit superparamagnetic behavior, high emission intensity, and electrochemiluminescence. An intense low-oxidation-potential electrochemiluminescence signal was observed by attachment of these functional NPs onto a fluorosurfactant-modified gold (Au(m)) electrode via application of an external magnetic field.

Synthesis, Structure, Photophysics, Electrochemistry, and Ion-Binding Studies of Ruthenium(II) 1,10-Phenanthroline Complexes Containing Thia-, Selena-, and Aza-Crown Pendants

A series of ruthenium(II) diimine complexes containing thia-, selena- and aza-crowns derived from 1,10-phenanthroline have been synthesized and characterized, and their photophysics and electrochemistry were studied. Their interaction with metal ions was investigated by UV-vis, luminescence, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of [Ru(bpy)2(L1)](PF6)2, [Ru(bpy)2(L2)](ClO4)2, [Ru(bpy)2(L3)](ClO4)2, and [Ru(bpy)2(L4)](ClO4)2 have been determined. The luminescence properties of [Ru(bpy)2(L1)](ClO4)2 were found to be sensitive and selective toward the presence of Hg2+ ions in an acetonitrile solution. The addition of alkaline-earth metal ions, Zn2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+ ions, to the solution of [Ru(bpy)2(L6)](ClO4)2 in acetonitrile gave rise to large changes in the UV-vis and emission spectra. The binding of metal ions to [Ru(bpy)2(L6)](ClO4)2 was found to cause a strong enhancement in the emission intensities of the complex, with high specificity toward Hg2+ ions.

Sensitive single-layered oxygen-sensing systems: polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complexes covalently attached or deposited as langmuir-blodgett monolayer on glass surfaces

Oxygen-sensing elements containing single-layered structures of luminescent indicators of ruthenium(II) bipyridyl complexes on glass surfaces prepared by covalent attachment and LB deposition are described. They are capable of detecting gaseous oxygen concentration by luminescence quenching of the indicator with reproducible and large quenching efficiencies that are comparable to the best quenching efficiencies obtained by other ruthenium(II) polypyridine based complexes immobilized in matrixes. The large quenching efficiencies for both films imply that the probe complexes are effectively quenched by oxygen, which is probably due to the thin single-layered structures with large surface-to-area ratio and short distance between the probe complexes and oxygen.