Metastable Supramolecular Assembly of Simple Monomers Enabled by Confinement: Towards Aqueous Phase Room Temperature Phosphorescence

The application of supramolecular assembly (SA) with room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) in aqueous phase has the potential to revolutionize numerous fields. However, using simple molecules with crystalline RTP to construct SA with aqueous phase RTP is hardly possible from the standpoint of forces. The reason lies in that the transition from crystal to SA involves a structure transformation from highly stable to more dynamic state, leading to increased non-radiative deactivation pathways and silent RTP signal. Here, with the benefit of the confinement from the layered double hydroxide (LDH), various simple molecules (benzene derivatives) can successfully form metastable SA with aqueous phase RTP. The maximum of RTP lifetime and efficiency can reach 654.87 ms and 5.02 %, respectively. Mechanistic studies reveal the LDH energy trap can strengthen the intermolecular interaction, providing the prerequisite for the existence of metastable SA and appearance of aqueous phase RTP. The universality of this strategy will usher exploration into other multifunctional monomer, facilitating the development of SAs with aqueous phase RTP.

Targeting lysosomes by design: novel N-acridine thiosemicarbazones that enable direct detection of intracellular drug localization and overcome P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-mediated resistance

Innovative N-acridine thiosemicarbazones (NATs) were designed along with their iron(iii), copper(ii), and zinc(ii) complexes. Lysosomal targeting was promoted by specifically incorporating the lysosomotropic Pgp substrate, acridine, into the thiosemicarbazone scaffold to maintain the tridentate N, N, S-donor system. The acridine moiety enables a significant advance in thiosemicarbazone design, since: (1) it enables tracking of the drugs by confocal microscopy using its inherent fluorescence; (2) it is lysosomotropic enabling lysosomal targeting; and (3) as acridine is a P-glycoprotein (Pgp) substrate, it facilitates lysosomal targeting, resulting in the drug overcoming Pgp-mediated resistance. These new N-acridine analogues are novel, and this is the first time that acridine has been specifically added to the thiosemicarbazone framework to achieve the three important properties above. These new agents displayed markedly greater anti-proliferative activity against resistant Pgp-expressing cells than very low Pgp-expressing cells. The anti-proliferative activity of NATs against multiple Pgp-positive cancer cell-types (colon, lung, and cervical carcinoma) was abrogated by the third generation Pgp inhibitor, Elacridar, and also Pgp siRNA that down-regulated Pgp. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that low Pgp in KB31 (-Pgp) cells resulted in acridine's proclivity for DNA intercalation promoting NAT nuclear-targeting. In contrast, high Pgp in KBV1 (+Pgp) cells led to NAT lysosomal sequestration, preventing its nuclear localisation. High Pgp expression in KBV1 (+Pgp) cells resulted in co-localization of NATs with the lysosomal marker, LysoTracker™, that was significantly (p < 0.001) greater than the positive control, the di-2-pyridylketone-4-cyclohexyl-4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (DpC) Zn(ii) complex, [Zn(DpC)2]. Incorporation of acridine into the thiosemicarbazone scaffold led to Pgp-mediated transport into lysosomes to overcome Pgp-resistance.

The crystal structure of catena-poly[(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′)-(μ3-2-hydroxybenzene-1,3-dicarboxylato-κ5 O,O′:O″,O‴:O‴)cadmium(II)], C20H12CdN2O5

C20H12CdN2O5, monoclinic, P2/c (no. 13), a = 8.6308(6) Å, b = 10.5180(6) Å, c = 18.6325(11) Å, β = 102.210(6)°, V = 1653.17(18) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0374, wR ref(F 2) = 0.0856, T = 250 K.

The crystal structure of poly[(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′)-(μ 4-2-chlorobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylato-κ5 O:O′:O″:O‴) cadmium(II)] monohydrate, C20H13CdClN2O5

C20H13CdClN2O5, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 11.4994(9) Å, b = 13.1171(10) Å, c = 13.0233(10) Å, β = 109.126(8)°, V = 1856.0(3) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0341, wR ref(F 2) = 0.0779, T = 293 K.

Reversible Structural Transformation of CuI-TbIII Heterometallic MOFs with Highly Efficient Detection Capability toward Penicillin

A Cu^I-Tb^III heterometallic MOF, namely 1·DMF, was obtained via a coordination assembly process of isonicotinic acid with Cu^I and Tb^III. 1·DMF can be switched to 1·MeOH in methanol with a luminescent emission response. Meanwhile, 1·MeOH exhibits a reversible single-crystal transformation to 1·DMF after immersion in DMF. Both MOFs have superior physicochemical stability. The 1·DMF-based biosensor has a remarkable sensing performance toward penicillin.

Ligands modulated the variable binuclear Cd2-SBUs and structures of four layered coordination frameworks

An intriguing modulation of Cd₂(RCOO)₄ SBUs and the structural variation in their layered CPs have been observed, which were tuned by di-carboxylate/co-ligand.

Four novel Zn(ii)/Cu(ii) coordination polymers containing hydroxyl groups: synthesis, crystal structure, luminescence sensing and photocatalysis properties

CPs 1, 3 and 4 show a 2D network, while 2 possesses a 3D network. 1 is a highly selective and sensitive bifunctional luminescent sensor towards Cu²⁺ and Cr₂O₇²⁻ ions. 3 and 4 exhibit photocatalytic activities for degradation of dyes (MB/MO).

Rational design, crystal structures and sensing properties of a series of luminescent MOFs based on a flexible tetracarboxylate ligand and N-donor ligands

Six Zn/Cd MOFs were synthesized and characterized. 1–3 are 1D ring chains. 4–5 show 2D bilayer network. 6 possesses a 3D network structure. In particular, 2 demonstrates highly selective and sensitive luminescent sensor towards acetone and Fe³⁺ ion.

A sensitive photoluminescent chemosensor for cyanide in water based on a zinc coordination polymer bearing ditert-butyl-bipyridine

Sensitive and direct sensing of cyanide in buffered aqueous solutions at pH = 7.0 by three new blue photoluminescent zinc-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylato coordination polymers bearing di-alkyl-2,2′-bipyridines has been achieved.

Two luminescent transition-metal–organic frameworks with a predesigned ligand as highly sensitive and selective iron(iii) sensors

The water-stable imidazole dicarboxylated-based MOFs are excellent luminescent probes for the Fe³⁺ ion in an aqueous solution.

Cadmium–1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylato coordination polymers bearing different di-alkyl-2,2′-bipyridines: syntheses, crystal structures and photoluminescence studies

Cd(ii) polymers, in acetone, can be used as luminescent materials for detection of CH₃CN.

Excited state decay of cyclometalated polypyridine ruthenium complexes: insight from theory and experiment

This perspective article tackles the open question why cyclometalated polypyridine ruthenium(ii) complexes typically only emit very weakly at room temperature and delivers answers beyond the standard schemes involving ³MC and tunneling decay channels.

Synthesis, Characterization, Properties and DFT Calculations of 2-(Benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)pyridine-based Iridium(III) Complexes with Different Ancillary Ligands

A series of new cyclometalated btp-based iridium(III) complexes with three different ancillary ligands, Ir(btp)2(bozp) (3a), Ir(btp)2(btzp) (3b) and Ir(btp)2(izp) (3c) (btp = 2-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)pyridine, bozp =2-(benzo[d]oxazol-2-yl)phenol, btzp =2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenol, izp = 2-(2 H-indazol-2-yl)phenol), have been synthesized and fully characterized. The crystal structure of 3b has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. A comparative study has been carried out for complexes 3a - 3c by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and DFT calculations. This observation illustrates that the substitution of N or S in ancillary ligand can lead to a marked bathochromic shift of absorption and emission wavelengths. The spectroscopic characterisation of these complexes has been complemented by DFT and TD-DFT calculations, supporting the assignment of (3)MLCT/(3)LC to the lowest energy excited state.

Structural characteristics and non-linear optical behaviour of a 2-hydroxynicotinate-containing zinc-based metal-organic framework

Materials with non-linear optical (NLO) properties play an important role in the construction of electronic devices for optical communications, optical data processing and data storage. With this aim in mind, a Zn(II)-based metal-organic framework {[Zn₂(nica)₂(bpy)_1.5(H₂O)]·0.5(bpy)·3H₂O}_n (1), was synthesized using 4,4ʹ-bipyridine (bpy) and a potentially bidentate ligand, 2-hydroxynicotinic acid (H₂nica) with a salicylate binding moiety. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that compound 1 crystallized in the orthorhombic space group Fdd2 and was composed of a three dimensional porous framework. Since Fdd2 belonged to a class of non-centrosymmetric space groups, we therefore investigated the non-linear optical behaviour of compound 1. Photoluminescence studies revealed that compound 1 exhibited a blue light emission with a maxima at 457 nm.