Two novel copper(II) salamo-based complexes: Syntheses, X-ray crystal structures, spectroscopic properties and Hirshfeld surfaces analyses

Small Molecule Optical Probes for Detection of H2S in Water Samples: A Review

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is closely linked to not only environmental hazards, but also it affects human health due to its toxic nature and the exposure risks associated with several occupational settings. Therefore, detection of this pollutant in water sources has garnered immense importance in the analytical research arena. Several research groups have devoted great efforts to explore the selective as well as sensitive methods to detect H2S concentrations in water. Recent studies describe different strategies for sensing this ubiquitous gas in real-life water samples. Though many of the designed and developed H2S detection approaches based on the use of organic small molecules facilitate qualitative/quantitative detection of the toxic contaminant in water, optical detection has been acknowledged as one of the best, attributed to the simple, highly sensitive, selective, and good repeatability features of the technique. Therefore, this review is an attempt to offer a general perspective of easy-to-use and fast response optical detection techniques for H2S, fluorimetry and colorimetry, over a wide variety of other instrumental platforms. The review affords a concise summary of the various design strategies adopted by various researchers in constructing small organic molecules as H2S sensors and offers insight into their mechanistic pathways. Moreover, it collates the salient aspects of optical detection techniques and highlights the future scope for prospective exploration in this field based on the limitations of the existing H2S probes.

Novel single-armed nitrogen-heterocyclic salamo-based fluorescent sensors for the detection of Al3+ and CN. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2021;258:119815. [PMID: 33930852 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2021.119815]

Two novel single-armed nitrogen-heterocyclic chemosensors with basically similar structures, PDNS and PZNS, were synthesized to specifically identify Al³⁺ in DMS:H₂O (1:1 v/v) solution by fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and the colour of PDNS and PZNS changed from yellow to colorless when Al³⁺ was added under daylight. This is the first time that nitrogen-heterocyclic is introduced into salamo-based chemical sensor. At excitation wavelengths of 361 and 365 nm, solutions of PDNS and PZNS changed to intense green-blue fluorescence. Furthermore, it was found that PDNS/PZNS and Al³⁺ have excellent binding capacity, the lower limit of detection (LOD = 6.25 × 10^-9/1.26 × 10^-9 mol·dm^-3) is also calculated. In addition, sensor PZNS can detect Al³⁺ in a solution system with up to 95% water content and applicable pH range is 3-12. Compared to other salamo-based sensors, PZNS and PDNS have broader detection conditions and wider utilities. PZNS can also identify CN^- in fluorescence spectrum. PZNS can be used for detection of Al³⁺ in aqueous systems in daily production and life.

A dual-channel 'turn-on' fluorescent chemosensor for high selectivity and sensitivity detection of CN¯ based on a coumarin-Schiff base derivative in an aqueous system

Novel strategies still need to be proposed that can be used to identify and detect toxic environmental pollutants. In this paper, two channels of colorimetry and fluorescence 'turn-on' fluorescent probe 1 (7-hydroxy-8-[(2-hydroxy-phenylimino)- methyl]-4-methylbenzopyran-2-one) for the simple yet highly selective detection of CN¯ have been successfully designed and synthesized. Crystal features of probe 1 were defined using X-ray single crystal diffractometry. Probe 1 showed a strongly colorimetric and fluorescence response to CN¯ that induced obvious naked-eye colour changes in aqueous solution (DMSO/H₂ O, 3:1 v:v). In addition, probe 1 for CN¯ detection displayed low detection limits of 3.91 × 10^-8  M, which were significantly lower than the 1.9 × 10^-6  M maximum level specified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for potable water. The sensing mechanism for probe 1 was attributed to the deprotonation process as shown by ¹ H NMR titration. Moreover, based on the visible colorimetry and fluorescence change for probe 1 to CN¯, measurement was performed for simulated water samples containing CN¯. This study provides a broad prospect for solving other pollution problems and promoting the design of new fluorescent materials.

A Bis(Salamo)-Based Fluorogenic Sensor for Highly Selective and Sequential Recognition of Cu2+ and B4O72- Ions in Semi-Aqueous Medium

A new type of multifunctional bis(salamo)-based fluorogenic sensor H₂BS was designed and synthesized. Under the action of V_DMF: V_H2O = 9: 1, the fluorogenic sensor can identify Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2-, in which N and O atoms can serve as binding sites for Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2-, the stoichiometry of the binding of the fluorogenic sensor H₂BS and Cu²⁺ has been confirmed by titration experiment, working curve, ESI-MS analysis and DFT calculation. The pH response experiment also confirmed that the fluorogenic sensor can recognize Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- in the pH range applicable to the physiological environment. The minimum detection limit of H₂BS for Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- recognition reaches 1.12 × 10^-7 and 5.56 × 10^-8 M, and the fluorogenic sensor H₂BS has been successfully applied to Cu²⁺ detection in actual water samples, and the test strip for detecting Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- was obtained. Meanwhile, the success of the test strip experiment made the fluorogenic sensor H₂BS to recognize Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- widely used in daily life. A new type of salamo-based multifunctional fluorogenic sensor H₂BS was designed and synthesized to identify Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- in aqueous solvent systems. Added Cu²⁺ to H₂BS can cause fluorescence quenching. Further experiments showed that H₂BS and Cu²⁺ form a stable 1:2 complex, while B₄O₇^2- can also cause fluorescence quenching of H₂BS, which is the occurrence of the PET effect. Meanwhile, H₂BS can be used for quantitative detection in the environment and rapid identification in life.

A newly synthesized visual bis(salamo)-based fluorescent chemosensor for exogenous detection of B4O72- in living cells and zebrafish

A newly synthesized fluorescent chemosensor H₆L was explored for detecting B₄O₇^2-, characterized by ¹H NMR spectrum, mass spectrum and fluorescence spectra. During the detection process of B₄O₇^2-, the fluorescence is significantly enhanced and naked eye recognition can be performed under 365 nm UV light without any interference by other typical anions. The limit of detection is as low as 6.97 × 10^-10 M. In addition, in order to broaden the application of salamo-based fluorescence sensors in the field of biology, except for the fluorescence imaging of HeLa cells, the first attempt of exogenous detection in zebrafish was conducted successfully.

Insight into Rare Structurally Characterized Homotrinuclear CuII Non-Symmetric Salamo-Based Complex

A rare homotrinuclear CuII salamo-based complex [Cu3(L)2(μ-OAc)2(H2O)2]·2CHCl3·5H2O was prepared through the reaction of a non-symmetric salamo-based ligand H2L and Cu(OAc)2·H2O, and validated by elemental analyses, UV-Visible absorption, fluorescence and infrared spectra, molecular simulation and single-crystal X-ray analysis techniques. It is shown that three CuII atoms and two wholly deprotonated ligand (L)2− moieties form together a trinuclear 3:2 (M:L) complex with two coordination water molecules and two bi-dentate briging μ-acetate groups (μ-OAc−). Besides, the Hirshfeld surface analysis of the CuII complex was investigated. Compared with other ligands, the fluorescent strength of the CuII complex was evidently lowered, showing that the CuII ions possess fluorescent quenching effect.

A Highly Selective Turn-on Fluorescent and Naked-eye Colourimetric Dual-channel Probe for Cyanide Anions Detection in Water Samples

A highly selective turn-on fluorescent and naked-eye colourimetric dual-channel probe for cyanide anions (CN-) has been designed and characterized. In the mixed solution (DMSO / H₂O, 9:1, v / v), only CN- could cause an increase in the UV absorption intensity and the corresponding fluorescence intensity increased, and other anions had no significant effect on the probe. After treatment with cyanide in the probe solution, the solution showed a noticeable colour change, from light yellow to purple. Moreover, a fluorescence spectrophotometer can be used to observe that the fluorescence intensity of the solution is significantly enhanced. The response of the colourimetric and fluorescent dual-channel probe to CN- was attributed to nucleophilic addition, and the mechanism was determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. In addition, this probe was used to detect CN- in actual water samples, including river water, drinking water, and tap water. The spiked CN- recovery rate is very high (97.2%-100.06%), and analytical precision is also very high (RSD < 2%), which shows its feasibility and reliability for detecting cyanide ions in actual water samples.

Two novel tetraphenylethylene-skeleton salamo-type fluorescent probes: specific recognition of cyanide through different response patterns

The possible sensing mechanism of probes TPES1 and TPES2 towards CN− ions.

A highly efficient yet stable salamo-type fluorescent chemosensor with multiple responses to Cu2+ and S2−

A new salamo-type compound H3L has been synthesized, and exploited as a chemosensor with multiple responses to Cu2+ and S2−. The crystal structure of the Cu(ii)  complex has been determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

A novel turn-on fluorogenic aldehyde-appended salamo-like copper(ii) complex probe for the simultaneous detection of S2O32− and GSH

A novel salamo-like copper(ii) complex probe (ASC) behaves as a two-pronged sensor of S₂O₃²⁻ ions and GSH by a ‘turn-on’ fluorescence mechanism.