Efficient Luminescence from Fluorene- and Spirobifluorene-Based Lanthanide Complexes upon Near-Visible Irradiation

Modulating the G-Quadruplex and Duplex DNA Binding by Controlling the Charge of Fluorescent Molecules

Two fluorescent and non-toxic spirobifluorene molecules bearing either positive (Spiro-NMe3) or negative (Spiro-SO3) charged moieties attached to the same aromatic structure have been investigated as binders for DNA. The novel Spiro-NMe3 containing four alkylammonium substituents interacts with G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures and shows preference for G4s over duplex by means of FRET melting and fluorescence experiments. The interaction is governed by the charged substituents of the ligands as deduced from the lower binding of the sulfonate analogue (Spiro-SO3). On the contrary, Spiro-SO3 exhibits higher binding affinity to duplex DNA structure than to G4. Both molecules show a moderate quenching of the fluorescence upon DNA binding. The confocal microscopy evaluation shows the internalization of both molecules in HeLa cells and their lysosomal accumulation.

Polyoxa- and Polyazamacrocycles Incorporating 6,7-Diaminoquinoxaline Moiety: Synthesis and Application as Tunable Optical pH-Indicators in Aqueous Solution

Synthetic approach to fluorescent polyaza- and polyoxadiazamacrocycles comprising a structural fragment of 6,7-diamino-2,3-diphenylquinoxaline has been elaborated using Pd-catalyzed amination providing target compounds in yields up to 77%. A series of nine novel N- and N,O-containing macrocyclic ligands differing by the number of donor sites and cavity size has been obtained. These compounds possess well-pronounced fluorescent properties with emission maxima in a blue region in aprotic solvents and high quantum yields of fluorescence, while in proton media, fluorescence shifts towards the green region of the spectrum. Using macrocycles 5c and 5e as examples, we have shown that such compounds can serve as dual-channel (colorimetric and fluorimetric) pH indicators in water media, with pH transition point and response being dependent on the macrocycle structure due to different sequences of protonation steps.

Luminescence properties of the Ln-EDTA complexes covalently linked to the chitosan biopolymers containing β-diketonate as antenna ligands

This paper reports on the preparation, characterization, and photoluminescence properties of novel hybrid materials, in which the EDTA-Ln-L complexes (where L: H₂ O, acac, bzac, dbm, and tta ligands, and Ln: Eu, Gd, and Tb) were covalently linked to the precursor medium molecular weight chitosan surface (CS) matrices or on the chitosan surfaces previously crosslinked with epichlorohydrin (CSech). The emission spectra of these materials were characterized by intraconfigurational-4fN transitions centred on the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions. Some broad bands from the polymeric matrix were also observed in the emission spectra, however the relative intensities of the intraconfigurational bands increased significantly for systems containing diketonate ligands when the antenna effect became more efficient. The values of the radiative rates (A_rad ) were higher for crosslinked hybrid systems with epichlorohydrin, while nonradiative rates (A_nrad ) presented the opposite behaviour. These data contributed to an increase in the values of emission quantum efficiency (η) for crosslinked materials. The effect of the modification process and antenna ligand on the values of intensities, intensity parameters Ω₂ e Ω₄ of the Eu³⁺ complexes were also investigated. The results showed that the crosslinked biopolymer surfaces have great potential for applications in molecular devices light converters.

Solid state electrochemiluminescence from homogeneous and patterned monolayers of bifunctional spirobifluorene

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) from self-assembled monolayers of a spirobifluorene dye covalently linked to a transparent ITO surface is reported.

Water-soluble lanthanide complexes with a helical ligand modified for strong luminescence in a wide pH region

Luminescent helical lanthanide complexes with hydrophilicity were examined for stability and reversibility in a pH region between 1.9 and 11.9.

Kinetically Stable Lanthanide Complexes Displaying Exceptionally High Quantum Yields upon Long-Wavelength Excitation: Synthesis, Photophysical Properties, and Solution Speciation

We demonstrate how highly emissive, kinetically stable complexes can be prepared using the macrocyclic scaffold of DO3A bearing coordinating aryl ketones as highly effective sensitizing chromophores. In the europium complexes, high quantum yields (up to 18% in water) can be combined with long-wavelength excitation (370 nm). The behavior in solution upon variation of pH, studied by means of UV-vis absorption, emission, and NMR spectroscopies, reveals that the nature of the chromophore can give rise to pH-dependent behavior as a consequence of deprotonation adjacent to the carbonyl group. Knowledge of the molecular speciation in solution is therefore critical when assessing the luminescence properties of such complexes.